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The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls (by Elise Primavera)

common sense media says

Fun page-turner weaves in some ruby slipper magic.

parents & educators say
See all 5 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

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.

Positive messages: Characters try to accept differences and work as a team to solve problems.
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 applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
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More on The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Three very different 11-year-old girls live on Gumm Street: Franny thrives on adventure, Cat is athletic with ESP, and Pru is safety conscious and loves to have her nose in a book. Around the time that a fourth girl, Ivy, moves to Gumm Street, strange things start to happen. The piano teacher and friend of the girls, Mr. Staccato, floats away into the sky, a slipper from The Wizard of Oz disappears, and a woman named Cha-Cha Staccato arrives bearing an uncanny resemblance to a certain wicked witch.

The girls must overcome their differences and work as a team to get to the bottom of these mysterious happenings, save themselves from being squeezed into a potion, and even save their beloved town of Sherbet.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Filled with adventure, mystery, teamwork, fantasy, humor, and wonderful illustrations, THE SECRET ORDER OF THE GUMM STREET GIRLS is a page-turner that will delight tween readers. Sending a good message for this often-cliquey age, the 11-year-old girls living on Gumm Street are very different and don't like one another in the beginning. But each has unique skills that makes her a good member of this sleuthing team.

The fantasy elements and even the character names are quirky and fun. Positive messages of beauty are woven in when two over-the-top characters who want the perfect eternal-youth-and-beauty potion have their plans foiled by the girls, who have a much more grounded idea of beauty.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Elise Primavera
Illustrator: Elise Primavera
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: September 26, 2006
Number of pages: 464
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 8
This review was written by Pam Gelman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

lilyleanna
teen, 15 years old
 
a really good book
the only violent part is when they talk about killing ChaCha.
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helped me decide | had useful details | read my mind (1)
mica4ever1
teen, 15 years old
11
 
nnjnjnj
hell i h8 that book my dad pick
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bizzibean
parent of and 5 , 10 , 14 year old
7
 
Can't wait for the sequel!
We listened to this book on a long road trip and my kids couldn't get enough of it. Even my 14 yr old would get in the car and say "Hurry up! Turn the book on!" It was a little over my 5 yr old's head but it kept the whole car's attention (from 40 yrs all the way down to 5 yrs.) We can't wait for the sequel!
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deedee379
kid, 9 years old
8
 
the best book ever
i love this book
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reader13
kid, 12 years old
7
 
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.
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