Annie's Adventures (Sisters 8, Book #1) [Paperback]

Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2008 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years

A rather large problem has befallen the Huit girls. (Sisters, actually. Octuplets to be exact.) One particular New Year’s Eve, the girls wait for their mommy to bring them hot chocolate and their daddy to return with more wood for the fire. But they don’t. Mommy and Daddy, that is. They’re gone. Poof! Maybe dead—no one knows for sure.
You must see the problem here. Eight little girls on their own, no mommy or daddy to take care of them. This is not a good thing.
So now these little girls, must take care of themselves. Get to school, cook the meals, feed the cats (eight of them, too), and pay the bills. They can’t ask for help, oh no. Any self-respecting adult would surely call in social services, and those well-meaning people would have to split them up. After losing their parents, being split up would be completely unbearable.
At the same time, the question remains:What happened to Mommy and Daddy? The Sisters Eight (as they are called, affectionately and otherwise) are determined to find out. Luckily, they do seem to have someone or something helping them. Notes keep appearing behind a loose brick in the fireplace.
It’s a good old-fashioned mystery with missing (or dead) parents, nosy neighbors, talking refrigerators, foul-smelling fruitcake (is there any other kind?), and even a little magic. Eight little girls, eight cats, and one big mystery—let the fun begin!

Annie’s Adventures, wherein the girls’ parents go missing (or die) and the girls learn each one has a power and gift. Annie, being the oldest, is the first to discover hers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Weber’s lively black-and-white sketches highlight the humorous and fantastical elements of the story. Baratz-Logsted’s tales of thrills, suspense and hijinks should satisfy adventure-seeking young readers."— Kirkus Reviews (review for Annie's Adventures)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Lauren Baratz-Logsted has written books for all ages. Her books for children and young adults include the Sisters Eight series, The Education of Bet and Crazy Beautiful. She lives with her family in Danbury, Connecticut.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; None edition (December 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054705338X
• ISBN-13: 978-0547053387
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was an independent bookseller and buyer for 11 years before deciding to take a chance on myself as a novelist. While trying to sell my books, I worked variously as a Publishers Weekly reviewer, a freelance editor, a sort-of librarian, and a window washer. My first novel, The Thin Pink Line, about a woman who fakes an entire pregnancy, was published by Red Dress Ink in 2003 as their own first-ever hardcover. It was published in 11 countries and was the first book from any Harlequin imprint ever to receive a starred Kirkus review. I've since had over 20 books published for adults (Vertigo), teens (The Twin's Daughter) and children (The Sisters 8 series, created with my husband and daughter). Recently, I've published a few ebooks as well, including a comedic romance for adults, The Bro-Magnet. I live in Danbury, CT, with my wonderful husband Greg and my equally wonderful daughter Jackie.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Fun Set of Octuplets You're Likely to Meet in Fiction December 15, 2008

By Rachel Kramer Bussel VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This introduction to The Sisters Eight is charming, ridiculous, mysterious and strange. The octuplets, whose were each born one minute apart, find on New Year's Eve that their parents (dad's a model, mom's a scientist) are missing, via a note left for them telling them they will each discover a power and a gift. Annie, the oldest, takes charge, as they try to hide their parentless state from their mean teacher, the McG, and the kindly mechanic, Pete, who manages to somehow catch on (despite Annie's disguising her voice as her dad and putting on a fake moustache).

Oh, and there's talking cats and petulant sisters and a cute boy named Will. These sisters are zany and adorable, and their antics and love for pink frosting, along with the sense of drama infused by Baratz-Logsted and her co-authors, husband Greg Logsted (author of the YA novel Something Happened) and 8-year-old daughter Jackie, make this a series I'm looking forward to reading.

Some of the naming conventions, like each cat corresponding to a sister, get a little outrageous, but the fun inventions, like shoes they use to walk on the ceiling and a misprogrammed robot maid, are absolutely delightful. The girls are wise beyond their years (some of them), but still have to deal with basic kid stuff like school and, oh yeah, not so basic stuff like their missing parents. They mostly take the disappearance in stride and focus on their daily tasks. It's hard to get a sense of each and every one of them from the book, though sourpuss Rebecca stands out. These little girls know what they like (shopping for toys, their cute classmate Will) and what they don't (their teacher, for one, and their nosy neighbor, The Wicket).

The sisters will likely appeal to Lemony Snicket fans, though while they too face tragedy, the story isn't grim (or Grimm) at all. I might have preferred that each girl tell her own story in the first person rather than first person plural, but it still works. This is a fun read and will appeal to kids who wonder just how much fun it would be to have their parents out of the house; in Annie's Adventures, it's fun but takes some grownup smarts to keep their busy, octuplet and animal-filled household running smoothly (with a little help from their friend Pete, whose knowing kindness makes him a standout character).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious hijinks for Penderwicks fans December 10, 2009

By Käthe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Both my daughters love this new series starring eight eight-year-old sisters, mystery, adventure, and a huge dose of humor. The Huit sisters live in an unusual house, shared with eight unusual cats. In the way of multiples, the sisters find ways to distinguish themselves from one another, and Baratz-Logsted has done a brilliant job of imagining the conflicts and the joys of sisterhood. The set-up allows for each sister to discover a new and unexpected capacity within herself.

And it's so fun! I read these aloud and we hurt ourselves laughing. With eight personalities and new skills, every child will find someone to identify with. Unlike such creations as The Spice Girls, girl power here is found in accomplishment, not in looks.

Without saying a word, Baratz-Logsted also does an amazing job of defying gender norms and invoking feminism.

Highly recommended to fans of The Penderwicks, Nancy Drew, Scooby Doo, and any child who's ever thought about what it would be like without those parents around.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars fun mix of reality, humor and fantasy May 9, 2009

By Carrie Dunham-LaGree

Format:Paperback

Annie's Adventures is the first in the new series The Sisters 8 by Laruren Baratz-Logsted. It's the story of octuplets (far more lovable than the infamous real-life octuplets). Our heroines were born on August 8th, 2000. They each have a cat. Their last name is Huit (French for 8). It's a numerology bonanza. They were born one minute apart, and the total difference in their height is one inch (meaning the oldest, Annie, is eight inches taller than her eight minutes younger sister).

Our story begins on New Year's Eve, when our beloved octuplets notice their father went out to get more wood for the fire quite a while ago, and their mother went to get eggnog quite a while ago. The girls soon discover a note, telling them they each have a gift, and they each much find a present to uncover the secret to where their parents are.

The story is a mix of reality (how the not-yet-eight-year-olds must learn to function as adults so as not alarm neighbors, teachers, etc. that there parents are missing) and humor (their mother, a scientist, has a dimwitted robot maid who doesn't follow directions well) and fantasy (they're smart enough to fool adults). The overall affect is a delightful combination of realism, fantasy and humor sure to delight the intended audience, but clever enough to satisfy their parents.

There are eight girls with eight cats, which means there are sixteen names to learn and try to keep straight in the 130-odd page text. There are occasional pictures (see the gorgeous cover) that are beautifully done. It seems the series will be at least eight parts, one devoted to each of the Huit sisters. I will warn you: I am enamored by this series, and I don't want to wait for all eight to be published. Start reading at your own peril; we won't find out where the parents are for quite a few more books. In the meantime though, enjoy.