Jess's Story

April 15, 2016
Just as suddenly as she disappeared at the end of series opener Sadie's Story (2015), Ms. M the witch pops back into the lives of three besties right when she's needed.In the first book, a lonely Sadie befriends Ms. M while Jess and Maya are on vacation at Moosehead Lake. This time, Ms. M comes to Jess' rescue. A natural athlete, Jess excels at basketball, soccer, tennis--just about any sport she tries her hand at. But when it comes to moves in the kitchen, Jess is no match for her chef mom. One afternoon when the babysitter cancels, Jess and her friends decide to make lasagna to surprise her mom. Unfortunately, their good intentions result in a smoked-filled kitchen. Jess is grounded, but all is not lost. Ms. M shows up as her new sitter, and the witch's outrageous magic stunts and mutual love of sports cheer Jess up. Despite the witty humor, some jokes may go over young readers' heads. For instance, Jess tries to learn Dog (yes, it's a language) but "Fra, fra. Foow," from Jess' mouth is not the same as "Fra, fra. Foow," from Ms. M's. "It's all in the intonation, dear. Like Chinese." However, many preteen girls can identify with Jess' thorny relationship with her mom; no matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to make her mom happy. Marcero depicts a multiracial trio of friends; Jess and her mom appear to be Asian.Delightful illustrations and enduring underlying themes make this a fun, quick read. (cooking tips, recipe, resources) (Fantasy. 9-12)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Jess is a great athlete, with normal kid appetites for things like peanut butter and pizza. She just can't seem to please her chef mom, who wants her to enjoy tofu and truffle oil. Enter Ms. M, a witch introduced in the first book in the series. Ms. M becomes Jess's babysitter, taking her on mini-adventures and helping her to (mildly) expand her tastes and her confidence. Ms. M is an entertaining character but does not quite live up to her foremothers, Mary Poppins and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. She offers Jess needed attention but not much guidance and is a catalyst for only minor growth, if any. While the mother/daughter conflict abates somewhat at the end of the story, the resolution seems sudden and temporary. References to the plot of Sadie's Story (HarperCollins, 2015) appear frequently, making this a true sequel and best appreciated by readers of the first installment. Gentle line drawings illustrate this pleasant, if somewhat bland, story. Back matter includes "Ms. M's Tips for Young Chefs," a recipe from the story for grilled tofu with Thai peanut sauce, and a glossary of herbs. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger chapter book collections, or where the first title has fans.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

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