Sisterz Books

Rani and the Wedding Ghost (Star Sisterz)
$4.99
Will Rani¡Çs cousin¡Çs wedding be a haunting affair?

Rani¡Çs cousin, Dali, is getting married to Frank, a wealthy widower, and Rani couldn¡Çt be more excited. But as the wedding plans begin to go awry, Rani becomes convinced that the spirit of Frank¡Çs first wife is haunting the house. Will the mystery message help Rani exorcise the wedding ghost?

This tenth title in the Star Sisterz series brings back popular character Rani Sen (Rani and the Fashion Divas) and plants her right in the middle of a family mystery. Written for tween girls, this fun series follows a group of friends who receive mysterious messages that encourage them to follow their dreams.

Yumi Talks the Talk (Star Sisterz)
$4.99
Strange things are happening to Yumi Suzuki. First, she finds herself adopting a kitten, even though she hates cats. Then her mom starts acting in all kinds of weird ways: ordering pizza when she doesn't like it, sleeping in the middle of the afternoon. Can Yumi cope with all the changes coming at her so quickly --- and even find a way to turn them into a good thing?

YUMI TALKS THE TALK is the sixth entry in the Star Sisterz series. It centers on the interesting --- if somewhat obvious --- mystery of what's going on with Yumi's mother, as well as the connected story of Yumi's tumultuous relationship with her crazy new kitten. The solution to the mystery is revealed midway through the book, and the rest of the story deals with Yumi's reaction to it, as well as the way it changes her relationship with her parents.

Unlike most of the other Star Sisterz books, YUMI TALKS THE TALK does not start with a clear-cut problem, but rather with a somewhat strange event: Yumi's mother gets sick on the morning she's about to take Yumi garage-sale shopping. From there, a series of somewhat unconnected events happen to Yumi: she finds a kitten, she loses the kitten, her mom continues to act strangely. While Yumi is an engaging and interesting character with unexpected talents and surprising depth, I think the book is less satisfying than it might have been because neither the story nor Yumi has a clearly defined goal.

To some extent, the book is about Yumi learning to open up to others and to new possibilities --- Yumi does grow and change over the course of the book, and learns to deal with her problems in a more adult way. This growth might have been more powerful, though, if Yumi's problem had been set out earlier in the book; done this way, Yumi comes across as a bit spoiled.

Still, there are lots of funny moments in YUMI TALKS THE TALK, including some great scenes with Yumi's cat. And the book's ending, while somewhat expected, still gives the reader a warm glow. Fans of the series will appreciate meeting a new main character, while being treated to cameos of the title characters from other books --- especially Nova Darling, Yumi's best friend.

--- Reviewed by Paula Jolin

Nova and the Charmed Three (Star Sisterz)
$5.99
Ever have your dream come true --- only to turn into a nightmare? That's what happens to Nova Darling when she's invited by Joe, her longtime crush, to join his band. Nova's in seventh heaven, until she realizes that she's not the only one after Joe --- and her rival is fellow band mate Ivy.

NOVA AND THE CHARMED THREE is the fifth book in the Star Sisterz series and the second about Nova. Nova loves everything about being a member of The Charmed Three: the practices, being near Joe, and especially the music. Everything, that is, except condescending Ivy, who acts as though she and Joe were just made for each other. Nova needs to figure out how to untangle the complex three's-a-crowd relationship and find a way for the band members to get along. She better figure it out fast, because The Charmed Three has a shot at an American Idol-like competition that could send them to the finals in Hawaii --- but not if Nova and Ivy can't appear on stage without snarling at each other.

Can Nova reach out to Ivy in a way that will benefit them both? Maybe, if she can solve the mystery of Ivy's sometimes strange behavior. Why does Ivy act so curt and demanding sometimes? And what really happened in the strange little drama that Nova saw play out in Ivy's house, between Ivy, her father and Joe? Only when she sits down and rethinks some of her own assumptions is Nova able to solve the mystery --- and her problem.

NOVA AND THE CHARMED THREE contains the requisite paranormal element of the series --- a strange phrase that appears in a weird place that no one else can see, which prompts Nova to do something surprising --- but as usual in these books, that element is kept very much in the background. Instead, the story focuses on Nova's relationships: with her mother, who has taken up the ballet career she once pushed on Nova; with her best friend Yumi; and most importantly, with Joe and Ivy.

I continue to enjoy this series, and its strength remains in its characters. While the mystery about Ivy is not very complicated, reading about Nova and her dilemma is a pleasure. While Nova definitely learned things in book #1, NOVA ROCKS, and her actions here reflect that growth, I appreciated the fact that her difficulties this time stem --- at least in part --- from similar problems: most importantly, a difficulty in communication. This seems realistic to me, because these kinds of problems are not what most kids conquer in one swoop --- instead they chip away at them, little by little, as they grow older. This focus also gave Nova a connection to the first book, as well as a strong realistic tinge.

--- Reviewed by Paula Jolin

Carmen's Crystal Ball (Star Sisterz)
$4.99
Carmen¡Çs Crystal Ball is the seventh title in a new series of adventures written specifically for tween girls. This fun series follows a group of friends who receive mysterious messages and win charms as they grow in confidence. The stories emphasize fun, friendship and empowerment.

Carmen Bernstein has a nose for news and a heart for animals. When she finds an old crystal ball on the same day that a mysterious message appears, Carmen begins to wonder if maybe she should start predicting the future instead of reporting on the past. Now she¡Çs on the trail of a story that could change the fate of her four-legged friends. And not even Carmen can predict where a greyhound named Dewey will lead her.

This fun series follows a group of friends who receive mysterious messages that help them grow in confidence. The series is full of funny situations every tween girl can identify with, and parents can feel comfortable knowing their girls are reading books that emphasize diversity, self-esteem, and personal courage.