The Curse of Addy McMahon | 
| Author: Katie Davis
Publisher: Greenwillow
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 370387
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 15.1 x 5.7 x 1.1
ISBN: 0061287113
EAN: 9780061287114
ASIN: 0061287113
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
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Condition: CHARITY SALE!! New book. 100% of the proceeds benefit the literacy and educational efforts of Books for America.
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Product Description
All her life, Addy's heard stories about the McMahon family curse. Her mom says the stories are just jokes, but Addy isn't so sure. In fact, she's got evidence. Like the fact that her archenemy saw Addy shopping for a training bra with her mom. Or that Jonathan, her mom's g-ross boyfriend, is moving into the guest room. If only Addy could escape into the cartoon world of her journal, or hang out with her best friend, Jackie. The only problem is—and this is probably because of the curse—Jackie is now Addy's ex-best friend since one particular comic from her journal was somehow shown to the entire school. If only Addy could prove to Jackie that it wasn't her fault. It had to be that curse. Didn't it?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
Laughed, cried and loved this page turner July 4, 2008
What fun I had reading this story... in two sit downs I was drawn in and couldnt wait to hear how this sweet and challanging girl would develop. It was driving me nuts how she just wouldnt take responsiblity for her own actions...but then she does and thigs really begin to blossom for her. Near the end I found myself crying like a baby.... what a joy
Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com July 2, 2008
Be sure you have plenty of time when you pick up The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis--you might not be able to stop turning pages to see what happens next. On the other hand, Davis's clever use of graphic illustrations interspersed in the narrative provide clean breaks if you just have to put the book down now and then.
Mother-daughter book clubs with girls in 6th to 9th grade will find a lot to like here. Addy is convinced she suffers from a family curse, rendered against her great-grandad in Ireland by fairies. And she's got mounting evidence to suggest she might be right. Her mom's boyfriend is moving into the guest room "temporarily," her worst enemy saw her shopping for a training bra, and her best friend, Jackie, is mad at her because she accidentally emailed a copy of a nasty fake interview with Jackie that got all around school.
But Addy does have a lot going for her. She helped create a school newspaper and she's on the editorial staff. She interviews interesting people and creates graphic drawings to illustrate the stories she writes. People love her interviews, and they let her know it. I found myself wishing I had experienced that kind of good luck when I was in middle school.
The illustrations punctuating the narrative should make The Curse of Addy McMahon attractive to reluctant readers as well as those who devour books. The presentation is unconventional, and so is some of the narrative. It was quite interesting to read Addy's thoughts about her father, who died from cancer he got from smoking. And the subject of parents entering the dating/relationship world after the death of a spouse is also very thoughtfully written.
Here's an activity idea to go with the book: have girls and moms both draw their own autobiograstrips like Addy's. Share them at a meeting and see what discussion ensues.
A witty novel! June 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Reviewed by Rachael Stein (age 15) for Reader Views (6/08)
Addy is convinced that she is a cursed girl. After all, her mother's boyfriend Jonathon is moving in, her worst enemy saw her shopping for a training bra, and her father died of cancer. And even when she has good intentions, such as surprising her best friend Jackie with the spectacular interview she wrote about her, things gets messed up -- Addy made the mistake of attaching the wrong document to an email and now best friends have become ex-friends. So, it's either all the bad luck in the world heaped onto Addy or that family curse that is causing Addy's troubles in the form of a father's absence, an unwanted house guest, an ex-friend's cold shoulder, and an enemy's spiteful attitude. Addy doesn't know how in the world she's going to get out of the mess she's in, but she does know that writing and drawing cartoons make her feel a whole lot better - until they get her into trouble, that is. In the midst of all her troubles, Addy has to learn to take responsibility for her actions and risks to get a reward.
I believe "The Curse of Addy McMahon" is aimed at the middle-grade audience, but even older teens, such as me, can really enjoy this clever and humorous novel. Towards the beginning of the novel, Addy comes off as shy and immature, but that's to be expected of a sixth grader. However, as the story progresses, Addy matures greatly, which surprised me for a character so young. I really enjoyed reading from Addy's point of view; even though she constantly complains and is really stubborn, she's also funny, honest, and very talented in both writing and drawing. Katie Davis does a wonderful job of developing Addy's character, and I really felt I got to know her personality as if she were a real person.
The ending of "The Curse of Addy McMahon" was very cutesy and perfect, but it made a very satisfying ending to a sweet story. I also really liked the illustrations from Addy's "autobiogra-strip" and other comics, and that's saying a lot because I usually don't enjoy reading comics or manga. I felt that the pictures added to Addy's characterization and the overall cuteness of the book. The novel's messages were well presented, especially at the end of the story, and were honest pieces of advice anyone can use: no reward comes without taking a risk; it's okay to give people a chance, and you need to know when to swallow your pride and apologize, among others.
I recommend "The Curse of Addy McMahon," by Katie Davis, more for middle-grade readers, especially the girls, because I feel that they would be able to relate more to Addy's experiences than older teens. However, anyone looking for a fast and funny read will enjoy this witty and entertaining novel.
What a fun book! June 18, 2008
This is a great read. Addy is endearing and her problems very moving. Katie Davis has woven the autobiograstrips into the story so the book is part traditional novel, part graphic novel. It's an easy read with humor and depth. Readers will want to start their own autobiograstrips once they've read Addy's!
I love Addy! June 10, 2008
I was once a bookseller at an independent children's bookstore, and The Curse of Addy McMahon is just the sort of book I would have loved to put in a customer's hands. It's a fun read, interspersed with Addy's "autobiographa-strips", short comic strips that Addy writes and illustrates. It reminded me a little of Harriet the Spy, when Addy's private autobiographa-strip is seen by all the wrong people and gets her into a big mess. My stomach was in knots, wondering how it would all get resolved. I carried the book around in my car all day and read it at red lights, that's how good it was!
Addy is such a real character. From dealing with her irritating brother, mourning the death of her father, gabbing with her best friend, and despising her mother's boyfriend, it's easy for any reader to find something to relate to. You'll find something to laugh about, something to cry about, something to cheer about in this book.
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