Jess's Story (Backyard Witch Series #2)

by Christine Heppermann, Deborah Marcero (Illustrator), Ron Koertge

Overview

The second book of the Backyard Witch series, by acclaimed authors Christine Heppermann and Ron Koertge, starring Ms. M, the witch who the Horn Book calls “a combination of Mary Poppins and a stand-up comedian.” A must-have for newly independent readers and fans of Ivy + Bean, Clementine, and the Food Network!

Jess is a superstar on the field and on the court. Soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis—you name it, she loves it. But she’s a disaster in the kitchen, much to the dismay of her chef mother. When Jess’s mom gets a chance to work in a famous kitchen for a week, Jess and her friends, Sadie and Maya, try to help out by making dinner. And . . . let’s just say that it goes up in flames. Enter Ms. M, the mysterious witch who appears right when you need her! Ms. M is a heroine to rival Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Ms. Frizzle. She doesn’t save the day herself, but she helps everyone save it for themselves.

Short chapters filled with illustrator Deborah Marcero’s striking, lively black-and-white illustrations make the Backyard Witch series a must-have for young middle grade readers. Includes a recipe and information about cooking and gardening.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062338433
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/12/2016
Series:	Backyard Witch Series , #2
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Christine Heppermann is the author of Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty, which received five starred reviews and was named to five best of the year lists in 2014, and Ask Me How I Got Here. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Highland, New York.

Deborah Marcero holds degrees in drawing and photography from the University of Michigan and an MFA in poetry from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. This is her first book.

Ron Koertge is the author of many acclaimed novels for young people, including Stoner & Spaz and Shakespeare Bats Cleanup. A two-time winner of the PEN Award, Ron lives in South Pasadena, California, where he is currently the city’s poet laureate. 

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2016
Gr 2–4—Jess is a great athlete, with normal kid appetites for things like peanut butter and pizza. She just can't seem to please her chef mom, who wants her to enjoy tofu and truffle oil. Enter Ms. M, a witch introduced in the first book in the series. Ms. M becomes Jess's babysitter, taking her on mini-adventures and helping her to (mildly) expand her tastes and her confidence. Ms. M is an entertaining character but does not quite live up to her foremothers, Mary Poppins and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. She offers Jess needed attention but not much guidance and is a catalyst for only minor growth, if any. While the mother/daughter conflict abates somewhat at the end of the story, the resolution seems sudden and temporary. References to the plot of Sadie's Story (HarperCollins, 2015) appear frequently, making this a true sequel and best appreciated by readers of the first installment. Gentle line drawings illustrate this pleasant, if somewhat bland, story. Back matter includes "Ms. M's Tips for Young Chefs," a recipe from the story for grilled tofu with Thai peanut sauce, and a glossary of herbs. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger chapter book collections, or where the first title has fans.—Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

School Library Journal

2016-03-30
Just as suddenly as she disappeared at the end of series opener Sadie's Story (2015), Ms. M the witch pops back into the lives of three besties right when she's needed.In the first book, a lonely Sadie befriends Ms. M while Jess and Maya are on vacation at Moosehead Lake. This time, Ms. M comes to Jess' rescue. A natural athlete, Jess excels at basketball, soccer, tennis—just about any sport she tries her hand at. But when it comes to moves in the kitchen, Jess is no match for her chef mom. One afternoon when the babysitter cancels, Jess and her friends decide to make lasagna to surprise her mom. Unfortunately, their good intentions result in a smoked-filled kitchen. Jess is grounded, but all is not lost. Ms. M shows up as her new sitter, and the witch's outrageous magic stunts and mutual love of sports cheer Jess up. Despite the witty humor, some jokes may go over young readers' heads. For instance, Jess tries to learn Dog (yes, it's a language) but "Fra, fra. Foow," from Jess' mouth is not the same as "Fra, fra. Foow," from Ms. M's. "It's all in the intonation, dear. Like Chinese." However, many preteen girls can identify with Jess' thorny relationship with her mom; no matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to make her mom happy. Marcero depicts a multiracial trio of friends; Jess and her mom appear to be Asian.Delightful illustrations and enduring underlying themes make this a fun, quick read. (cooking tips, recipe, resources) (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews