  | Worse than weird Author: Little, Jody J. | |
| Price: $22.38 | ||
Summary:
A story of a citywide scavenger hunt and a girl who learns that family--and weirdness--is relative.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.30 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 513108 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/01/19)
School Library Journal (00/02/20)
The Hornbook (00/05/20)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2020 Gr 3–7—Middle-schooler MacKenna MacKensie MacLeod thinks that "three Macs is excessive," so she just goes by Mac. Her name isn't the only thing that aspiring coder Mac finds to be a little too much. Her kale-loving, naked-biking, drum-circling parents can be a lot to live with, and she knows that they will neither approve of nor want to pay for the coding camp that she's set her heart on. With the help of her two friends and an enigmatic newcomer with family issues of his own, she sets out to raise the money by winning a food truck promotional scavenger hunt. Since she's in Portland, OR, there are a lot of food trucks, and things quickly start getting complicated. The quest is quirky to the point of the occasional eye roll, and most of the adults are close to caricatures, but readers will enjoy Mac's dynamic with her friends. There's plenty of warmth and fun mixed in with the twee. VERDICT A good bet for fans of Emma Donoghue's "The Lotterys" books or Jennifer Chambliss Bertman's "Book Scavenger" series.—Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/15/2020 Mac has a problem. Her parents are weird, New Age hippies who keep chickens in the garage, consume bushels of kale, and break into spontaneous drumming circles. She knows that they will not give her permission to attend a summer coding camp, let alone shell out $500 for it. When Mac learns about a scavenger hunt involving Portland's food carts and a $2,000 prize, she plunges into the search. With her best friends, Willa and Brie, sidelined by personal issues, Mac ends up with an unlikely partner in Joey Marino, a quiet boy who hides in the background. As Mac learns more about Joey and his family, she realizes that there are worse things than weird parents. Joey's serious outlook is offset by the laugh-out-loud events at Mac's house, including a vengeful Rhode Island Red hen, a trio of goats to promote goat yoga, and, of course, the naked bike rides. It all comes together neatly, inspiring Mac to a new height of honesty. Middle-grade readers are bound to enjoy Mac's machinations. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
Booklist - 03/15/2020 - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
