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Disclosure: I received copies of the Ginnie West Adventures for this review. No other compensation was received for this post.
Title: The Secret Sisters Club (Ginnie West Adventures, Book 1) |Author: Monique Bucheger | Illustrator: Mikey Brooks | Publication Date: March 18, 2012 | Publisher: True West Publishing | Pages: 238| Recommended Ages: 8 to 13
Ginnie and Tillie are best friends and each are being raised by a single parent. Ginnie is being raised by her dad. Her mother passed away when she was very young. Tillie is with her mother, who is divorced.
The girls think Tillie’s mother is in love with Ginnie’s Uncle Jake so they start ‘Operation Secret Cousins’ (OSC). They later discover that Tillie’s mother is interested in Todd, Ginnie’s father. The girls then come up with ‘Operation Secret Sisters’ (OSS) to set their parents up and are elated to think of the possibility of becoming one family.
The Secret Sisters Club is fun for middle-aged girls. I am taking this review from my eight-year-old. There is a love of horses that my daughter currently shares, wholesome family values, friendship, and a bit of intrigue as the girls playing match maker. The Secret Sisters Club is the first installment in a series of four titles. This title was published in 2012 and is available for Kindle and in paperback.
Title: Trouble Blows West (Ginnie West Adventures, Book 2) | Author: Monique Bucheger | Illustirator: Mikey Brooks | Publication Date: April 13, 2012 | Publisher: True West Publishing | Pages: 234 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 13
Trouble Blows West seems to continue shortly after The Secret Sisters Club. The main characters are still 12. Family life is going well with Ginnie and Tillie’s parents now having four dates under their belts. 🙂 The girls are still hoping they become true sisters with their parents someday tying the knot.
School life is a little more hairy for Ginnie with Pierce Owens in her grade. He tried to match his fist with Ginnie’s brother, Toran, but Ginnie intervened in her brother’s struggle and caused Pierce to land on his backside. Ginnie earned two days suspension and the honor of painting about a 1/4 mile of fence when her father found out.
Pierce seeks revenge later in a movie theater, but ends up getting more than he bargained for from Ginnie, Toran, and a stranger in the movie theater. Pierce still makes it known that he seeks to hurt Ginnie.
Ginnie, Toran, and his friend, Austin, sneak over to Pierce’s house with the plan to set bags of cow manure on fire at the doorstep. In the process, Ginnie witnesses Pierce’s dad physically and verbally abusing Pierce and his mother. The kids try to all truly making amends.
Trouble Blows West brings a nice continuation to the first title. There are the original beloved characters taking on a new challenge that they work out together and this story touches a bit on the unfortunate events of bullying. Trouble Blows West is available in the same format as The Secret Sisters Club and was also released in 2012.
About the Author: Monique Bucheger
When Monique Bucheger isn’t writing, you can find her playing taxi driver to one or more of her 12 children, plotting her next novel, scrapbooking, or being the “Mamarazzi” at any number of child-oriented events. Even though she realizes there will never be enough hours in any given day, Monique tries very hard to enjoy the journey that is her life. She shares it with a terrific husband, her dozen children, sons-in-law, and adorable grandchildren, cats, and many real and imaginary friends. She is the author of the Ginnie West Adventuresseries, picture book, Popcorn, and plans to write plenty more.
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About the Illustrator: Mikey Brooks
Mikey Brooks is an author/illustrator that specializes in children’s art. His picture books include the best-selling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures, Trouble with Bernie and Bean’s Dragons. He is the illustrator of several picture books such as Popcorn by Monique Bucheger, Bongo Flo by Carolyn Quist, andLucius and the Christmas Star by Jim Long. He is the author of The Gates of Atlantis: Battle for Acropolis, The Stone of Valhalla the best-selling middle-grade series The Dream Keeper Chronicles. You can find more about him and his books at: www.insidemikeysworld.com
