Review by Booklist Review
Sisters Kennedy and Devon are polar opposites who can't get along to save their lives. Kennedy loves fairy tales and math; Devon loves spiders and chaos. The only topic the two can agree on is how annoying it is to share a room with their youngest sister, baby Eve. After a blowout fight resulting in a technology ban, Devon and Kennedy attempt to prove they can get along and win their devices back by working together to spin a tale that will put Eve to sleep. The result? Princess Danger Sparklepuff and her band of misfit pirates. Federman spins a masterful story within a story, bringing all three sisters to life through the unusual adventures of the princess pirates. Chock-full of hilarious dialogue and comical scene-setting, the plot is nicely complemented by Federman's layered illustrations, which feature sketchy figure designs over structural backgrounds and match perfectly with the tone of the sisters' storytelling. A great lesson on the power of imagination and the never-ending development of the sibling bond, this book will surely be well-loved by fairytale enthusiasts and action-packed adventure lovers alike--especially those with rowdy siblings.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--Kennedy and Devon are forever-fighting sisters (FFs) who only have three things in common: they love stories, pizza, and have a third younger sister who shares their room and isn't sleep trained, leaving both sisters sleep deprived and even grumpier than usual. Their fights reach new extremes, leading to their electronics being taken away. To prove to their parents that they can work together, Kennedy and Devon craft an elaborate story to help baby Eve fall asleep. Unfortunately, they can't agree on anything--should their main character try to find true love or adventure? Enter Princess Sparklepuff, sneaking out of her castle to a dragon-filled volcano, blending both sisters' interests into one epic journey. Federman uses rotating colors for the fairy tale's speech bubbles, helping readers track which sister is adding each new story element. Keen-eyed readers will be delighted when they discover what is happening in the background of Federman's panels, as baby Eve makes her own contributions to this adventurous tale. The overall result is a good choice for fans of the "Babymouse" series, or for readers who aren't quite ready for the more nuanced sibling drama found in books such as Varian Johnson's and Shannon Wright's Twins or Megan Wagner Lloyd's and Michelle Mee Nutter's Squished. VERDICT Cute and filled with the reality of sisters who don't get along all the time, this graphic novel will appeal to fans of humorous stories with a fairy-tale spin.--Annamarie Carlson
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