Customer Reviews

Mackenzie Blue

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I decided to go get the book for my 12 year old stepsister and she REALLY likes it. The characters are in middle school and it's all about their lives which really appealed to her. She read the whole thing in a day! The illustrations and little diary entries are a great touch. The website is really cool too. I definitely recommend this book for anyone with little sisters, nieces, nephews, etc.

There are just so many precious books out there right now for middle grade girls. The latest one that I've found is MACKENZIE BLUE by Tina Wells. Booking Daughter almost had a conniption when she saw this book and read the description (and the book even mysteriously disappeared from my desk)! I think the cover alone made her want to pick it up because it's just so appealing -- it has an adorable young girl on the cover with lots of hearts, stars and shine.

I thought this book was very cute. It was a great mix of a lot of elements that I find myself enjoying in middle grade books. The storyline definitely captured my attention, and there was even a mystery about a missing diary that kept me hooked. In addition, there were "real" diary entries on lined notebook paper, loads of text messages (with a glossary in the back for the abbreviations), as well as illustrations of Zee and her friends. It was a very quick read for me, and I think even young girls who aren't big readers are going to be attracted to this book and the story.

I absolutely loved Zee. She seemed to be a pretty normal tween who just happened to live in Los Angeles and attend a pretty posh private school. I especially appreciated that Zee and her friends were all very gifted with musical and singing talents. Zee was actually a singer/songwriter who had dreams of winning the Teen Sing contest; and I know girls are going to really like the "American Idol" performance aspect of the book. I liked the Zee's lyrics and really enjoyed seeing how she learned to express herself through her music.

All of the characters in this story were just terrific,and I think kids will recognize traits from the children they know from school. There was the cute, nice guy that Zee had a crush on; and there was her best guy friend Ally who moved to Paris. In addition, there were also the "mean" girls that almost every tween girl will relate to knowing. I especially liked Zee's best friends Jasper and Chloe who both added some humor to the story as well as a vehicle for Zee to learn some valuable lessons.

This book was not only entertaining, but it also teaches kids some important things. Zee's friend Jasper was very interested in finding ways to make their school "green;" and Zee herself was a little embarrassed that her father drove a big gas-guzzling SUV. I appreciated the author's attempt of bringing the environmental issues to the forefront; however, I really appreciated the moral lessons that Zee learns in this book. When her diary goes missing, she suspects and eventually blames her two best friends. By the end of this book, she learns the value of friendship and how to give and accept apologies. I don't know about you, but I think those lessons are especially important for young girls in today's society!

MACKENZIE BLUE is the first book in a series, and I have a feeling that many girls are going to be wanting more. The second book MACKENZIE BLUE: THE SECRET CRUSH will be available in late 2009; and there is a little excerpt in the back of MACKENZIE BLUE which gives a few teasers. In the next book, the kids in the music class will be making their very own band. It sounds like the next book picks up right where the first one ended!

There is just the cutest website for the book MACKENZIE BLUE, and I thought it captured the essence of the book perfectly. There are so many fun things for young girls to do including: visiting Kathi's closet and dressing her for a photo shoot, learning some green tips with Jasper, identifying which character you are most like, and learning money tips with Marcus. There is also a site on YouTube where young girls can make their own video telling why they are "the real Mackenzie Blue." The buzz around this book is just wonderful and I think middle grade girls are just going to love not only the book but all the hype surrounding it!

Here are Booking Daughter's thoughts:

I thought MACKENZIE BLUE was good because Mackenzie was really funny. I think Tina Wells put Mackenzie in a lot of hard situations like losing her diary and having her best friend move away. I liked how the book ended and how Mackenzie learned to trust her new friends.

My younger cousin and I were searching for a new book for her to read and Mackenzie Blue defiantly caught our attention. She is absolutely excited to read the book, especially after checking out the book's website. It's vibrant colors and images and exciting storyline is what really got my little cousin interested. It's the perfect book for her!

I bought this for my little cousin who is always looking for new books to read, and it has become an instant favorite. She can relate so much to Mackenzie, they are alike in so many ways! The book is fresh and contemporary -- perfect for "tweens"!!

We just got this book and my daughter is already crazy about it! I think it's the illustration and colorful pictures that really captured her attention, besides, the storyline in a school setting is one that really intrigues little girls. This is a must have!

I actually found this book's website first and spent an hour playing Kathi's closet with my niece (haha, yes I actually enjoyed playing it too). She loved it and the characters. We read part of the book online and had to buy it. The fact you can actually read part of the book online first before you decide to buy it is a big plus for me. The illustrations are great and overall it is a perfect book for my niece who was looking for something new to read. =)

i got a few things rushed shipped in amazon and came across this book and i thought i'd get it for my cousin. my younger cousin loves reading, and she picked it up right away. she read this book in about an hour. she said it was super interesting, and that she loved ms. blue because she's just like her. it's written like a diary, so if someone you know liked diary of a wimpy kid, they'll probably like this (especially if they're a girl).

We pre-ordered this book yesterday and my little sister can't wait to get the book in the mail. I'm glad that as she grows up, there are books like this to guide her along the way, with characters that are fun, yet good role models at the same time. The illustrations look great and the story is just the type for my little sister.

I bought this book for my little sis and she loves it! She just can't put it down and has been reading all day. I think it is a awesome book because MacKenzie is a really good role model that my sis can look up too. She goes through the same situations that normal teenagers go through. My sis can totally relate.

My husband and I actually got this for my daughter as part of a birthday bundle I am creating. My daughter has become an advocate for reducing our family's carbon footprint on the world! Honestly the concept is too cute, and from what I read it seems perfect for her.