
The Jolly Regina ( The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters 1) ( ages 7+ )
By ; Kara LaReau
Publisher ; Amulet Books ( January 2017 )
The first installment of an exciting new series reminiscent of The Incorrigible Children of the Ashton Place and alike. The Jolly Regina is quite a lively, swashbuckling adventure full of humor and action. Perfect for early chapter book readers.The protagonists, Kale and Jaundice are realistic and approachable for young readers. Their eventful journey with women pirates will entertain them to no end. And the apparent girl power aspect in the story may capture many young ladies.
Two sisters Kale and Jaundice are "bland" girls by all means; they lead the most uneventful lives - eating oatmeal porridge and cheese sandwiches everyday. Their favorite colors are brown and grey and they enjoy darning socks and reading "Dr. Nathaniel Snoote`s Illustrated Children`s Dictionary." The girls did not answer their front door for many years, not since their parents had left home for an errand and did not return. They decided that they were not up to any "perils" but that`s exactly what they get to experience when they finally answer to a surprise knock on their door.
Now the girls are on board in the deep sea, and all for the first time in their lives! A group of women pirates lead their way. And the girls are to attend to their chores from scrubbing the deck to assisting the big fat cook. When they learn the whereabouts of their parents from the captain they make a plan to rescue them. Kale`s beloved " Dr. Nathaniel Snoote`s Illustrated Children`s Dictionary" and many other tidbits they find inside Jaundice`s pockets come in handy. What happens after the pirates find out about the plan is a spectacular read to unfold.
The chapter headers comprising of Jaundice and Kale`s favorite dictionary words as well as the story in general are excellent for vocabulary building. A heartily funny romp that is everything else but 'bland'; fans of the Bland Sisters surely will eagerly await the next!
( With many thanks to Amulet Books and NetGally for the ARC )