Synopses & Reviews
A girl gets into a mouthful of trouble in this modern fractured fairy tale, from the author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club. Cat Starr’s life is no fairy tale. When her astronaut mother goes on a NASA mission, Cat is shipped off to live with her father, her bratty stepsister, Olivia, and her horrid little stepbrother, Geoffrey (aka Barf Bucket). At the height of her frustration, Cat places a
very long-distance call to her mother in space. Next thing she knows, toads appear when she talks—and when Olivia speaks, flowers and gems come out of her mouth. Cat is more than happy to keep her condition quiet, but Olivia makes the mistake of showing off, and before you can say “once upon a time,” jewel thieves have kidnapped Geoffrey in hopes of exchanging him for the jewel-spouting Olivia! Cat really wants to rescue Geoffrey and protect Olivia—not to mention get rid of all the toads—but she’s encountered a slight problem: A government agency has taken her to a secret lab in Area 51 so that they can perform experiments on her. Is there any way this story can have a happily-ever-after?
Loosely based on “Cinderella” author Charles Perrault’s “Toads and Diamonds,” Once Upon a Toad is charming, funny, and sure to resonate with readers.
Review
and#8220;In this enjoyable twist on a Charles Perrault fairy tale . . . Frederick keeps readers entertained with an action-packed, zany plot and an even wackier cast.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;The Horn Book Magazineandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"For fans of fantasy and fairy tales, this is a gem."and#8211;andlt;Iandgt;School Library Journalandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"Recommended for fans of pure wackiness." andlt;BRandgt; ---Booklist
Review
"Fans of Frederick's
The Mother-Daughter Book Club should thoroughly enjoy this modern version of an old fairy tale."
--Library Media Connection
Review
"A light-hearted read, sure to entertain no matter what your taste—flowery or toad-ally gross." Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan
Review
"A light-hearted read, sure to entertain no matter what your tasteand#8212;flowery or toad-ally gross."
Review
"Fans of Frederickand#8217;s andlt;Iandgt;The Mother-Daughter Book Clubandlt;/Iandgt; should thoroughly enjoy this modern version of an old fairy tale." andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;Library Media Connectionandlt;/Iandgt;
Synopsis
The Mother-Daughter Book Club's Heather Vogel Frederick's tale of a girl who spits toads and spiders when she speaks--but is her curse really a gift?
Synopsis
A girl gets into a mouthful of trouble in this modern fractured fairy tale, from the author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club.
Once upon a time, Cat Starr lived with her astronaut mom in Houston. But when her mother gets sent on a long-term mission, Cat has to move to a far away land--her dad's house, halfway across the country--and share a room with her real-life evil stepsister, Olivia. Just when Cat can't take it anymore, Great-Aunt Abyssinia comes to the rescue. And things go from bad to worse.
The next morning, Cat opens her mouth and a toad hops out What's more, when Olivia speaks, diamonds and flowers appear. How unfair is that? Before you can say "happily ever after," the girls are on the run from jewel thieves and a government agency. Can Cat save the day--and get rid of all those toads?
This is an enchanting fractured fairy tale from acclaimed Mother-Daughter Book Club author Heather Vogel Frederick.
Synopsis
Cat Starr's life is no fairy tale. When her mother goes on a NASA mission, Cat is shipped off to live with her father and bratty stepsister, Olivia, and younger brother, Geoffrey, aka Barf Bucket.
When Cat finally can't take it anymore, she places a very long distance call to her mother in space. Next thing she knows, her Great Aunt Abyssinia (who also happens to be her rather inept fairy godmother) comes to town. So when toads start appearing every time Cat talks and Olivia gets flowers and gems when she opens her mouth, Cat is more than happy to keep quiet. But Olivia makes the mistake of showing off and before you can say "once upon a time," Geoffrey is kidnapped by jewel thieves hoping to to exchange him for the jewel-spouting Olivia--while Cat is taken by a government agency to a secret lab in Area 51 so that they can perform experiments on her.
Cat has got to find a way to rescue Geoffrey, protect Olivia, and get rid of all these toads! But is this one story that just won't end happily ever after?
Synopsis
andlt;Bandgt;A girl gets into a mouthful of trouble in this modern fractured fairy tale, from the author of andlt;iandgt;The Mother-Daughter Book Clubandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Once upon a time, Cat Starr lived with her astronaut mom in Houston. But when her mother gets sent on a long-term mission, Cat has to move to a far away landand#8212;her dadand#8217;s house, halfway across the countryand#8212;and share a room with her real-life evil stepsister, Olivia. Just when Cat canand#8217;t take it anymore, Great-Aunt Abyssinia comes to the rescue. And things go from bad to worse.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The next morning, Cat opens her mouth and a toad hops out! Whatand#8217;s more, when Olivia speaks, diamonds and flowers appear. How unfair is andlt;iandgt;thatandlt;/iandgt;? Before you can say "happily ever after," the girls are on the run from jewel thieves and a government agency. Can Cat save the dayand#8212;and get rid of all those toads?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;This is an enchanting fractured fairy tale from acclaimed andlt;iandgt;Mother-Daughter Book Clubandlt;/iandgt; author Heather Vogel Frederick.
About the Author
Heather Vogel Frederick is the author of the popular Mother-Daughter Book Club series, as well as the highly acclaimed andlt;iandgt;The Voyage of Patience Goodspeedandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Education of Patience Goodspeedandlt;/iandgt;, and the Spy Mice series. She resides with her family in Portland, Oregon. Visit her at HeatherVogelFrederick.com.