Review: Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway

publisher: Razorbill

release date: August 3rd, 2010

hardcover, 282 pages

source: Traveling ARC Tours

intended audience: Young adult

rating:


description from Goodreads: Three sisters share a magical, unshakable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.

Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Review: This one was a fun summer read. It was funny, intriguing, and magical. The three girls have just gone through their parents divorce and been uprooted to a new town with their mother. The three girls simply could not be more different in personality, and they are constantly bickering. It seemed like everytime one of them said anything, another sister would be right there with a witty retort. It definitely made for a few out-loud laughs on my part. On their first day of high school, when they are all trying to get acclimated, each girl's powers reveals itself.

With the alternating point of view, you really get a good sense for each girls dilemma, and you really get to see how well each of the girls' powers suits them. April is the oldest and most responsible, and even though they are constantly bickering, she watched over here sisters like a mama hen, even more so when she can see into their immediate futures! She uses it to keep an eye on them and even to thwart June from skipping school!May (I keep wanting to spell her name "Mei", which is my daughter's name---and it constantly amazed me how alike this character and my daughter were!!) is a bit of a rebel, very sarcastic-witted, and doesn't really care what people think of her, she just wants to be herself. Her invisibility power defintely suited her and she used it often when she just wanted to be away from everyone. June, the baby, had some definite growing up to do. Her main goal was to become popular at this new school, and once she discovered she could read minds, she used it to secure her popularity. The story really takes off when April gets a vague vision of the sisters in trouble, involving the boy whose locker is next to hers and the mystery begins!

I did at one point find it a little odd and far-fetched that these sisters first discovered their powers when they were very young and then somehow forgot about them until their teen years. I mean, if you see your sister disappear into thin air, I would that think that its not something easily forgotten!

I liked the romance interwoven into this plot. The two older girls find some interesting love interests, and I especially like the story of May and her tutor! Very sweet stuff, made even more amusing by May's sharp humor.

While this one didn't absolutely wow me, I still really enjoyed this light, fun story! Worth a mention that their is a lot of swearing in this one and some heavy drinking. It didn't bother me, but just a head's up for others! :)

Visit Robin Benway's site here!