avue's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
america_maxon1096's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
locolibrarian's review
3.0
I was excited for a Halloween version, but when the girls resort to finding books at the library about aircraft and spells, I did not like that. The story redeems itself since the girls don’t actually use that stuff and the bad luck charm is actually a mustard seed, a sign of faith from the Bible.
Other than this, the rest of the story was cute and fun. Talking about a fun costume dance party, the troubles of babysitting, and having fun trick or treating and going to a spooky cemetery.
Other than this, the rest of the story was cute and fun. Talking about a fun costume dance party, the troubles of babysitting, and having fun trick or treating and going to a spooky cemetery.
impybelle's review
3.0
I'm torn. On the one hand, HALLOWEEN! On the other, ehhhh? The story itself isn't that different from what I remember from the original, but the way it's told doesn't do much for me. MA gets sent a chain letter, breaks the chain against the advice of most of her friends, and almost immediately bad luck begins to befall her and the club.
There's a showdown at the local cemetery at midnight and Cokie Mason is cemented as MA's nemesis. Only that last bit isn't exactly what happens here and I have thoughts.
I still don't like MA having blue eyes. I get why in a visual medium MA and Kristy don't look similar enough that people would think they were sisters, like the original run repeated, because no one wants to have to spend too much time figuring out which is which, to say nothing of simply wanting more interesting visuals. I get it. But there's no lack of blue eye rep in the books now so this just feels like an unnecessary change. This isn't something MA's Bad Luck Mystery introduces, but it is very noticeable this go round.
Still not onboard for the Jackie's not a redhead angle and yes, still committed to dying on this hill.
But my biggest issue is this:
Cokie and Grace (to a lesser extent) are the closest thing the BSC books have to ongoing antagonists. Cokie is repeatedly mentioned as the club's nemesis, with a particular dislike for Mary Anne herself. So the choice to make Cokie super androgynous and Grace fat? Mm, not a great look to put it mildly. Fat kids get enough flak just existing and I thought we'd finally, FINALLY moved away from making them the villains in kid's lit but apparently not? In theory it shouldn't matter, but we're not there yet. Ditto for the changes for Cokie.
That being said, Cynthia Yuan Cheng does a fantastic job making MA's Bad Luck Mystery feel moody and spooky at just the right times. I love the imagined witchy version of the club (need that spinoff ASAP) and the zombie hunters version was also fun. Basically, this book FEELS like a kid's Halloween and I do love that.
There's a showdown at the local cemetery at midnight and Cokie Mason is cemented as MA's nemesis. Only that last bit isn't exactly what happens here and I have thoughts.
I still don't like MA having blue eyes. I get why in a visual medium MA and Kristy don't look similar enough that people would think they were sisters, like the original run repeated, because no one wants to have to spend too much time figuring out which is which, to say nothing of simply wanting more interesting visuals. I get it. But there's no lack of blue eye rep in the books now so this just feels like an unnecessary change. This isn't something MA's Bad Luck Mystery introduces, but it is very noticeable this go round.
Still not onboard for the Jackie's not a redhead angle and yes, still committed to dying on this hill.
But my biggest issue is this:
Spoiler
Cokie and Grace (to a lesser extent) are the closest thing the BSC books have to ongoing antagonists. Cokie is repeatedly mentioned as the club's nemesis, with a particular dislike for Mary Anne herself. So the choice to make Cokie super androgynous and Grace fat? Mm, not a great look to put it mildly. Fat kids get enough flak just existing and I thought we'd finally, FINALLY moved away from making them the villains in kid's lit but apparently not? In theory it shouldn't matter, but we're not there yet. Ditto for the changes for Cokie.
That being said, Cynthia Yuan Cheng does a fantastic job making MA's Bad Luck Mystery feel moody and spooky at just the right times. I love the imagined witchy version of the club (need that spinoff ASAP) and the zombie hunters version was also fun. Basically, this book FEELS like a kid's Halloween and I do love that.
justanothergirlreads's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
finesilkflower's review
4.0
Another great graphic novel adaptation! This is one of the silly Halloween books, but it's given careful treatment. It was especially fun to see illustrations of the spooky 1800s Stoneybrook legends, creepy graveyard, and Mary Anne and Logan's Cats costumes.
Stray Observations:
The Rodowskys don't look as I pictured them - they're brown-haired in the book and I think they are described as having red hair.
Cokie and Grace are more punk/alternative than I would have imagined. I pictured them looking more like Heathers.
Mr. Spier is particularly sweet in this book.
Realizing the "luck" was all a coincidence would have been a good place for a lesson about confirmation bias. I had incorrectly remembered the original book doing this - a missed opportunity either way.
Stray Observations:
The Rodowskys don't look as I pictured them - they're brown-haired in the book and I think they are described as having red hair.
Cokie and Grace are more punk/alternative than I would have imagined. I pictured them looking more like Heathers.
Mr. Spier is particularly sweet in this book.
Realizing the "luck" was all a coincidence would have been a good place for a lesson about confirmation bias. I had incorrectly remembered the original book doing this - a missed opportunity either way.
thebookworm73's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jaimeb's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75