THE CURSE OF ADDY MCMAHON by Katie Davis

Addy McMahon, a twelve year old girl who goes through quite a lot of misfortune, has blamed a period of unlucky times on a family curse. Barely anyone besides herself believes that there even is a curse. As Addy goes through this page-turner, a series of unfortunate events occur. To rid herself of her guilty thoughts, she keeps assuring herself that it was caused by her great-grandfather who supposedly inflicted a never-ending curse on Addy and her family by angering some fairies. (I can see how that might happen. The fairies in my grandfather’s garden are easily insulted.) Addy’s arch enemy, Marsha Pittel, whom Addy and her best friend, Jackie, like to tease about her last name, is every so often involved in creating Addy’s misery. Addy has a secret diary that she often writes in throughout the book. Well, it’s not really a diary, but it is secret. She calls it her autobiogra-strip, because it has her life story in it so far, yet it is in the format of a comic strip, though it is not particularly funny.

I found this clever novel a treat to read. I read it in two days. I could not put it down. I would rate this book in my top 20 favorites and therefore it will have a special place on my very own cedar bookshelf that Grandma Toadsie carved for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the unusual and unexpected twists. Katie Davis is an amazing author and her writing is unique and fascinating. Throughout the book I found myself laughing, and nervously waiting for Addy McMahon to make difficult decisions. The style of writing helped me find an Addy McMahon in me, and I found myself feeling the feelings of the main character and some other characters briefly too. I would recommend this book to girls (and female toads) age ten and up, because many of the most important characters are female and because it talks about the unique situations that young girls experience in middle school. Some of those situations were similar to those that my twin sister Poppy D. Niggles and I experienced right here in Toad Hill Middle School. Like when my best friend Noodle McDoodle and I got in a fight and didn’t talk to each other for three days, just like Addy and Jackie in the book. If you want a quick read, just pick up the Curse of Addy McMahon, or if you’ve already read it, try making your own autobiogra-strip. It’s fun!

I give this book all 5 Toads!

Bye-dledeedoo for now!
Always yours, Boodledoo


P.S. How do you rate The Curse of Addy McMahon?