Parents' Guide to

The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fun page-turner weaves in some ruby slipper magic.

Book Elise Primavera Adventure 2006
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

bizzibean
bizzibean Parent of 0, 5, 10 and 14-year-old
July 22, 2011
age 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!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (5):

Filled with adventure, mystery, teamwork, fantasy, humor, and wonderful illustrations, this 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.

Talk to Your Kids 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.

Book Details

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