The Jolly Regina (The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters Book 1)

Kara LaReau, Jen Hill (Illustrator)

$14.95

Publication Date: January 10th, 2017

Publisher:

Amulet Books

ISBN:

9781419721366

Pages:

176

Description

In the spirit of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters will captivate middle-grade readers looking for humor, hijinks, and a swashbuckling good time. Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. Together, they patiently await the return of their parents, who left on an errand years ago and have never returned.

One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They’re unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their parents. With whimsical illustrations and Roald Dahl–esque wit, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters is the visually stunning, laugh-out-loud funny start to a new series for readers who are looking for an anything-but-bland adventure.

About the Author

Kara LaReau was an editor at Candlewick until she became a full-time writer. She has published many acclaimed picture books for children, including Ugly Fish, Rabbit & Squirrel, Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars, and the Geisel Award–winning chapter-book series the Infamous Ratsos. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Praise for The Jolly Regina (The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters Book 1)

"LaReau serves her humor dry, adding some serious swashbuckling for good measure...Meanwhile Hill's pen-and-ink cartoons give the book precisely the right strange and silly tone."
— Kirkus

"With dry humor and a touch of snark, this first book of a new series is a smart choice for readers who have mastered Bink & Gollie but aren't quite ready for Lemony Snicket."
— School Library Connection

"Filled with puns, intrigue, and ample evidence that women make excellent—and ruthless—pirates, it’s a promising introduction to the Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters series."
— Publishers Weekly

"Replete with puns, gags, and life lessons, this transgressive voyage may “ketch” fans of envelope pushers like Barry Yourgrau, Alan Katz, or Roald Dahl."
— Booklist

"Plenty of references to booty and poop decks make for easy humor, while more subtle comedy comes from the deadpan third-person narration."
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books