Hailey Twitch and the Campground Itch

April 1, 2011

Hailey Twitch's excitement turns sour when her teenage sister's demanding friend joins the family on a weekend getaway. Even the second grader's not-so-imaginary sidekick Maybelle faces challenges at the family campground. Desperate to retain her magical abilities, the spunky sprite exerts her powers with unintended consequences. This series entry maintains a well-realized child-centered perspective through every humorous magical snafu. (Arcade games run amok, and the bossy friend's hair turns green.) Hailey's realistic worries address her jealousy and self-doubt as she initially emulates her sibling's behavior. When her sister takes part in a forbidden exploration, Hailey's thoughtful response demonstrates substantial growth. Hailey also reveals her growing maturity as she empathizes with her favorite classmate. "Now I know how Addie Jokobeck feels when she is trying to get me to listen to lots and lots of rules. It feels like a very big frustration." The youngster's energetic voice rings true despite an overabundance of exclamation points. Wispy cartoon sketches depict outraged expressions and sheepish grins. A cliffhanger sets the stage for the next installment. This wholly satisfying trek embodies the a typical Hailey-ism: "very fun and funny." (Fantasy. 6-9)

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July 1, 2011

Gr 2-4-Hailey Twitch is back with her invisible fairy friend who is always getting her into heaps of trouble. This time Hailey and Maybelle are off to a campground with her parents, her friend Addie, her sister Kaitlyn, and her sister's friend Maya. Hailey and Addie make s'mores and play at the arcade and on the beach. Unfortunately, they also have to face some problems with Maya, who is always mean to Hailey. Meanwhile Maybelle is having trouble controlling her "magic," which leads to some funny moments including dumping all of the clothes out of Maya's suitcase and turning her hair green. But when Kaitlyn and Maya sneak off to a tree house at night and get stuck, Hailey and Maybelle are the only ones who can help them. Youngsters who enjoy Ramona, Judy Moody, and Clementine will get a kick out of Hailey Twitch. Humorous black-and-white spot art appears throughout. Sure to be a hit among young chapter-book readers who can't get enough fairy books.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.