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The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

(2006, Fiction - Adventure, Written by Elise Primavera, Illustrated by Elise Primavera)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Fun page-turner weaves in some ruby slipper magic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Characters try to accept differences and work as a team to solve problems.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Use of the expression "put a gun to head." Also, discussion of whether or not Ivy can be killed by Cha-Cha. Fire used by Cha-Cha to smoke the girls out from the house. Ivy's shoulder is wounded and bleeds. Threat of being squashed into youth potion.
  • Sex:

    Two over-the-top characters who want to attain eternal youth wear skimpy clothes and are described with much humor.
  • Language:

    Very little questionable language -- the worst it gets is "crap" and "butt."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

Parents need to know that this is story is loosely tied to characters from The Wizard of Oz, and some parts are similarly scary: A certain wicked witch threatens the girls, who are banished to a strange land and have to dodge a fire. Also, a father vanishes, and his daughter is jinxed. But these scary sequences also have humor. There are many references to body image, but it's the older women who are obsessed with their looks -- the girls have the right perspective.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the girls' personalities. How do they differ, and how are they are similar? What's the common thread that pulls the girls into this "club" and helps them recognize their companions' talents? Parents can also talk about Bling Bling and Coco's quest for beauty and how the girls -- who have their own challenges -- are more accepting of their physical selves.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0

    ok

    i dont know, my older sister told me to read it, but i dont like it. its ok, but ive only read a little, but its not my favorite.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    a really good book

    the only violent part is when they talk about killing ChaCha.

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