California Holiday: Or, How the World's Worst Summer Job Gave Me a Great New Life (Paperback)

by Kate Cann (Author) "TUESDAY AFTERNOON, FIVE O'CLOCK, and death is looking like a positive option..." (more)
Key Phrases: Kiddie Heaven, Nursery Sprites, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up–On many levels, Rowan is a typical British teen, just finishing her exams, about to head off to university. She's sick of her younger brother and tired of the way that her life has been going. What separates her from other girls her age is that she chooses to go to America for the summer and be a nanny. Never mind that she has no experience, or that she's never been to the U.S.; she just wants to escape England. She flies to Seattle, where she works for a horrible couple and hates every minute. Her only friend is the pet iguana that is kept locked in a cage on the roof. When things get out of control, Rowan runs away with the lizard. She sets off toward San Francisco, but when her bus stops in Sacramento, she meets Landon, who talks her into following him to Truckee, CA. The first half of the book is rather sluggish, but once the two meet, the story picks up. Landon's not the greatest of guys (he's actually more of a jerk), but he does manage to show Rowan that you can't run from life. This title will appeal to Meg Cabot's fans, and the first-person narration will have them eagerly turning the pages.–Erin Dennington, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA
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Product Description

Dear Mel,

Okay, it's not a dream job. The kid is alright, but her mom treats me like a personal slave/shopper/chef. And she's vile to the pet iguana who is now my only friend -- sad or what? Maybe I'll run off to San Francisco -- maybe my next postcard will be from there! Wish me luck!

xoxo,
Rowan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (April 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060561610
• ISBN-13: 978-0060561611
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #597,651 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not So Great Holiday!, April 28, 2005

By	Stephanie Dodson "Author of Headgear" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Kate Cann likes her Holiday books to be about off the beaten path type places that aren't the normal vacation destinations for the masses. In California Holiday, the main character Rowan takes off by herself to America after examines. For over half the book Rowan is in Seattle (which by the way is in WASHINGTON) working as a nanny for a horrible couple and hating every minute. Her only friend is their pet Iguana that they kept locked in a cage on the roof. With help from the polish grandmother called Babisca she runs away with Iggy the Iguana headed towards San Francisco but when her bus stops in Sacramento, she meets hottie Landon who talks her into following him to Truckee. Yes, that's right; Truckee is where she spends her "California Holiday".

The story begins very slowly and is kind of boring during her time in Seattle. There is no romance and very little plot to start with. The story picks up and becomes more interesting once she meets Landon. They work together at a hotel and live in cabins by the Lake. But the romance between them hits a huge snag in the form of a girl named Coco.

This was my least favorite of Kate Cann's Holiday books. Not only did the beginning drag, I thought Landon was a total jerk. I kept waiting for Rowan to meet some other cute boy. If you want a good vacation book, I'd pick up her book Spanish Holiday instead.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Enjoyable, May 5, 2006

By	Franke53 (Seattle) - See all my reviews

Rowan is a British teenager from England. She's like any ordinary girl, just making her way through life and enjoying the experiences along the way. On the other hand, one experience is not so pleasant. Living with her brother is a drag. He annoys Rowan all the time and is a little pest. Rowan can't be in England anymore with her family and just has to get away. She decides to become a nanny and go to America. She has never been to America and she hasn't been a real nanny before. Rowan finds a job in Seattle for a family with a little girl. Nothing is going right with this family and the only friend she really has at this point is a pet iguana, who is being trapped upstairs in a cage of this Seattle family's apartment. Rowan decides she can't take it anymore and she has to protect the iguana because the family wants to get rid of it. Her next adventure is to San Francisco, California. She meets a boy, Landon, after her first bus ride and he takes her with him to Truckee, California. Rowan is starting to really like Landon, even though he is kind of a jerk. Will her time at Truckee be the greatest thing that has ever happened to her? Will she finally meet her true love?

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of meaning to it that was completely real. This girl is trying to truly find herself and where she belongs. Where will she be in life? That is what really makes this book complete. This is an enjoyable and fun book to read. I recommend it to anybody who loves some romance and humor all mixed together. Kate Cann is an extraordinary author with a way of bringing books to life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice surprise, July 31, 2005

By	Willow (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Kate Cann's "holiday" books are always entertaining, but are usually less than perfect. CALIFORNIA HOLIDAY isn't a fantastic book, but it was surprisingly cute and entertaining.

Rowan is sick of her family - her brother is annoying and her parents seem to walk on their tiptoes when they're around her. After a few mishaps, Rowan decides that it will be best if she takes a year off before she starts college - partially so she can clear her thoughts and partially because she wants to get away from her family. So she heads off to Seattle to be a nanny for an ultra-rich family.

Unfortunately, things don't work out the way Rowan had intended, and her employers are a handful. Once Rowan reaches her breaking point, she decides that she needs to leave...again. So she heads off in search of a new job and some new friends.

CALIFORNIA HOLIDAY is cute, funny, and an incredibly entertaining book. Yes, it's predictable. Yes, it's cheesy. But in my opinion, it's also Kate Cann's best book yet.