Book Review: The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is a story about girls working together to solve a mystery. Loosely tied to key characters from The Wizard of Oz, some pieces of the plot are similarly scary: A certain infamous wicked witch threatens the girls, who are also banished to a strange land and have to dodge a fire. Also, a father vanishes, and his daughter is jinxed in his place. But these scary sequences also have humor. There are many references to body image, but it's older women (rather than the girls) who are obsessed with their looks -- the girls have the right perspective.

Families can talk about each of the girls' personalities. How do they differ, and how are they are similar? What's the common thread that pulls the girls into this "club" and helps them recognize their companions' unique talents? Parents can also talk about Bling Bling and Coco's quest for beauty and how the girls -- who have their own challenges -- are more accepting of their physical selves. For kids interested in learning more about the references to The Wizard of Oz, parents can help them access the novels and film.

Common Sense Media Review
Filled with adventure, mystery, teamwork, fantasy, humor, and wonderful illustrations, THE SECRET ORDER OF THE GUMM STREET GIRLS is a page-turner that will delight tween readers.

Sending a good message for this often-cliquey age, the 11-year-old girls living on Gumm Street are very different and don't like one another in the beginning. But each has unique skills that makes her a good member of this sleuthing team.

The fantasy elements and even the character names are quirky and fun. When the wicked Cha-Cha banishes the girls, they eventually escape to a world of intelligent potatoes.

Positive messages of beauty are woven in when two over-the-top characters who want the perfect eternal-youth-and-beauty potion have their plans foiled by the girls, who have a much more grounded idea of beauty.

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