October 19th 2021 by Etch/Clarion Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Beth and Chanda want to earn some money-- Beth wants to treat her mother to something nice for her birthday, and Chanda really wants a cat. When their lemonade stand doesn't earn very much, they are looking for other employment opportunities. Beth's sister isn't able to watch a neighbor's house because she is too busy with sports and school work, so suggests the two younger girls. Ms. Langford agrees to hire the two two walk her dog, water her plants, and generally make sure that everything is fine when she is away. Beth and Chanda make themselves a little TOO much at home, and try on their employer's vintage clothing and post pictures of themselves posing in the house on social media. This gets them a lot of "likes" from school mates, who are curious as to where they are posing. The girls brag a little too much about the house, and soon their classmates want to see it. Thinking that just one girl is coming, the two plan a tea party, but when several show up, things go badly wrong and a lamp is broken. The girls want to replace it, but it's a $200 lamp! They have to take other jobs in order to earn the money, and come up a little short on shipping and on rectifying a tiny bit of a mistake. The two have a falling out over several small issues and approach Ms. Langford's return while in a bit of a tiff. Will they be able to make things right with their employer, repair their friendship, and be able to fulfill the dreams for which they hoped to m ake money?
Strengths: Books about tweens who have jobs and responsibilities are always interesting, and the idea of housesitting is an intriguing one. Hanging out with a cute dog is a bonus. Both Beth and Chanda's families are very supportive, and I love the pictures of the families hanging around at the dinner table. It's also good that the girls are trying to earn their own money and not rely on parental handouts. Beth's sister is very helpful and understanding, adn Chanda's feelings of competition with her older sister are realistic. The pictures are brightly colored and appealing.
Weaknesses: While the girls know it is bad to break the lamp, and do try to make things right, they don't seem to be all that concerned about trying on the clothes or posting pictures of Ms. Langford's house, and they don't seem to have consequences for their actions, aside from the money, which they manage to earn back.
What I really think: I will probably purchase, because Miller's Click series is very popular, but personally, I did not care for this one at all, because of how the two treated Ms. Langford's house! If I hired tweens to walk Pongo, and they tried on my vintage wardrobe and broke a lamp, I would not be nearly as understanding as Ms. Langford! My students will not feel the same way, because they are not old people who are too attached to their possessions.
Strengths: Books about tweens who have jobs and responsibilities are always interesting, and the idea of housesitting is an intriguing one. Hanging out with a cute dog is a bonus. Both Beth and Chanda's families are very supportive, and I love the pictures of the families hanging around at the dinner table. It's also good that the girls are trying to earn their own money and not rely on parental handouts. Beth's sister is very helpful and understanding, adn Chanda's feelings of competition with her older sister are realistic. The pictures are brightly colored and appealing.
Weaknesses: While the girls know it is bad to break the lamp, and do try to make things right, they don't seem to be all that concerned about trying on the clothes or posting pictures of Ms. Langford's house, and they don't seem to have consequences for their actions, aside from the money, which they manage to earn back.
What I really think: I will probably purchase, because Miller's Click series is very popular, but personally, I did not care for this one at all, because of how the two treated Ms. Langford's house! If I hired tweens to walk Pongo, and they tried on my vintage wardrobe and broke a lamp, I would not be nearly as understanding as Ms. Langford! My students will not feel the same way, because they are not old people who are too attached to their possessions.
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