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Priscilla the Great
Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2010
39 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Sybil Nelson
28 books65 followersSybil Nelson lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and two daughters. She is a PhD student at the Medical University of South Carolina and has written twelve novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 26, 2011
Fire flinging fingertips, making armored, killer guards rock out to some pop music, and an invisible jet. Man, the lifestyles of the not-so-rich and super-powered.
Priscilla is just like any other 7th grade girl. She's got a mop of red hair, a overprotective father, a football playing brother, and a set of twin brothers. She and her best friend, Tai, have been plotting ways to get Priss' crush to finally crush back on her. Then, one day, Priss isn't so normal anymore. Right before school at the coolest pool party, her extremely hot crush makes her feel REALLY hot, hotter than she has ever felt before, her face is red and her body is definitely feeling 'off'. Pass it off as hormones, stress, or nerves, but when you can set fire to a bathroom towel by touching it, something has changed.
Priscilla learns at this point that she may never be normal again, and this fire thing? Is she going to scorch something every time she sees her favorite guy? This cannot be happening, and who is she going to tell? Who will believe her? The answer to that: more people than she realized, and it's an awful lot for her to understand. Oh yea - she is kidnapped and about to be killed now, did I forget to mention that? And her so-called super powers decide to take a vacation, not too super after all, huh?
I flew through this book! I loved the whole journey. It was fun, it was funny, it was exciting. I can't wait to keep going with this series. The way the author ended it was a cliffhanger I am too weak to resist.
We get to see a real family in this story. With all of the ups and downs of sibling relationships and parent/child drama. It all feels very real, even with the super powers thrown in. You can tell the family has a real dynamic to it. Who hasn't loved and hated their siblings all at the same time. The same is true in this family. One of my favorite parts is when a booger war is invoked to help the older brother out, even if he didn't realize it at the time. (Every family needs to experience a good booger war!)
Young adults and some of us not-so-young adults will rush to end of the book, when my Kindle said that I had hit the 100% mark...I was not a happy girl. I couldn't believe I finished it that quickly. I WILL be joining the gang for round two of Priscilla the Great!
Priscilla is just like any other 7th grade girl. She's got a mop of red hair, a overprotective father, a football playing brother, and a set of twin brothers. She and her best friend, Tai, have been plotting ways to get Priss' crush to finally crush back on her. Then, one day, Priss isn't so normal anymore. Right before school at the coolest pool party, her extremely hot crush makes her feel REALLY hot, hotter than she has ever felt before, her face is red and her body is definitely feeling 'off'. Pass it off as hormones, stress, or nerves, but when you can set fire to a bathroom towel by touching it, something has changed.
Priscilla learns at this point that she may never be normal again, and this fire thing? Is she going to scorch something every time she sees her favorite guy? This cannot be happening, and who is she going to tell? Who will believe her? The answer to that: more people than she realized, and it's an awful lot for her to understand. Oh yea - she is kidnapped and about to be killed now, did I forget to mention that? And her so-called super powers decide to take a vacation, not too super after all, huh?
I flew through this book! I loved the whole journey. It was fun, it was funny, it was exciting. I can't wait to keep going with this series. The way the author ended it was a cliffhanger I am too weak to resist.
We get to see a real family in this story. With all of the ups and downs of sibling relationships and parent/child drama. It all feels very real, even with the super powers thrown in. You can tell the family has a real dynamic to it. Who hasn't loved and hated their siblings all at the same time. The same is true in this family. One of my favorite parts is when a booger war is invoked to help the older brother out, even if he didn't realize it at the time. (Every family needs to experience a good booger war!)
Young adults and some of us not-so-young adults will rush to end of the book, when my Kindle said that I had hit the 100% mark...I was not a happy girl. I couldn't believe I finished it that quickly. I WILL be joining the gang for round two of Priscilla the Great!
February 21, 2011
In a Sentence: A quick middle grade read with a fun main character.
My Thoughts
As I kind of hinted at in my "In a Sentence," section above, Priscilla the Great was a book that, once I actually sat down and devoted time to reading it, I flew through rather quickly. Priscilla "Priss" was a cute, quick-thinking young girl who is hard not to like. She's got a bit of that stereotypical "tween" feel, but not to the point of causing annoyance.
My favorite part of the book was Priscilla's interactions with her family. I thought they were very realistic and well-written scenes. Priss's older brother, Josh, has an obsession with Christina Aguilera, which totally cracked me up because my little seventeen year-old brother, who's a total jock, has a closet fetish for girly pop music as well. (Shh....don't tell)! I also loved her little twin brothers. They were able to do pretty much every mischievous thing imaginable, and they annoyed the crap out of Priss, but I found it to be endearing (at least, from an outside perspective. I'm sure they'd drive ME crazy too)! Also, Priss's best friend, Tai, was a total sweetheart, and I liked her immediately!
There is really only one issue that I had with this book, and that's with putting into a category (i.e. Middle Grade versus Young Adult). With the exception of one thing, I would put this book solidly in the MG category. However, there was a very brief reference to sex that made me think it would be more appropriate as a YA book. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't anywhere near graphic or anything, but I thought it wasn't necessary to advance the plot or characterization, and it was enough to make me really have a problem with putting an age stamp on the book. Up until that point, I was planning on passing the book on to my eleven year-old cousin after I was done with it, but now, I'm not sure. It's not like I expect this age group not to know about sex, but the way the scene was embedded into the book, and given Priss's personality and her age, I felt like the next to first thing a mother would say to her seventh grade daughter after finding out that she was crushing on a boy would NOT be to tell her not have sex with him. I understand that Priscilla's powers could make her dangerous if she was in a "romantic situation," but I thought that, for a seventh grader who JUST started realizing her feelings for a boy, the warning "no kissing, honey" would suffice.
Other than that, I thought Priscilla the Great was a decently enjoyable read. It was a bit like what you would expect if X-Men went to middle school. From the way the book ended (warning: cliffhanger!), I'm expecting there to be a sequel, though I haven't heard of anything yet!
My Thoughts
As I kind of hinted at in my "In a Sentence," section above, Priscilla the Great was a book that, once I actually sat down and devoted time to reading it, I flew through rather quickly. Priscilla "Priss" was a cute, quick-thinking young girl who is hard not to like. She's got a bit of that stereotypical "tween" feel, but not to the point of causing annoyance.
My favorite part of the book was Priscilla's interactions with her family. I thought they were very realistic and well-written scenes. Priss's older brother, Josh, has an obsession with Christina Aguilera, which totally cracked me up because my little seventeen year-old brother, who's a total jock, has a closet fetish for girly pop music as well. (Shh....don't tell)! I also loved her little twin brothers. They were able to do pretty much every mischievous thing imaginable, and they annoyed the crap out of Priss, but I found it to be endearing (at least, from an outside perspective. I'm sure they'd drive ME crazy too)! Also, Priss's best friend, Tai, was a total sweetheart, and I liked her immediately!
There is really only one issue that I had with this book, and that's with putting into a category (i.e. Middle Grade versus Young Adult). With the exception of one thing, I would put this book solidly in the MG category. However, there was a very brief reference to sex that made me think it would be more appropriate as a YA book. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't anywhere near graphic or anything, but I thought it wasn't necessary to advance the plot or characterization, and it was enough to make me really have a problem with putting an age stamp on the book. Up until that point, I was planning on passing the book on to my eleven year-old cousin after I was done with it, but now, I'm not sure. It's not like I expect this age group not to know about sex, but the way the scene was embedded into the book, and given Priss's personality and her age, I felt like the next to first thing a mother would say to her seventh grade daughter after finding out that she was crushing on a boy would NOT be to tell her not have sex with him. I understand that Priscilla's powers could make her dangerous if she was in a "romantic situation," but I thought that, for a seventh grader who JUST started realizing her feelings for a boy, the warning "no kissing, honey" would suffice.
Other than that, I thought Priscilla the Great was a decently enjoyable read. It was a bit like what you would expect if X-Men went to middle school. From the way the book ended (warning: cliffhanger!), I'm expecting there to be a sequel, though I haven't heard of anything yet!
January 24, 2011
Priscilla is pretty much your average tweenage girl. She has crushes, she has a best friend, she experiences bullying and all the stress the middle school entails. Priscilla, however, has something else going for (or against) her, depending how you look at it. Priscilla has incredible superpowers that leave her vulnerable in ways that her classmates could never imagine, but also give her amazing power and potential, making her a veritable fire hazard in school. Can Priscilla master her powers with the help of her best friend in time, or will she fall prey to a heinous plan to turn children into monsters?
It should be made known that I don’t read too much Middle Grade literature because it tends to be a bit too flat or unemotional for me. However, when the author, Sybil Nelson, approached me to try Priscilla the Great, I was intrigued by the premise containing superpowers. You all know I’m obsessed with superpowers. So, I decided to give it a go. Priscilla the Great is a fun, engaging tale of a young teenage girl grappling with the realities of life while throwing fire-starting, mind-reading and more into the mix. Written in a simple but descriptive prose, the book flows well, and kept me rooting for Priscilla throughout.
The book starts with a bang, showing us Priscilla in a precarious situation, then backtracks to show what led Priscilla to her current situation. I loved the beginning of the story. When books launch full-speed into the action, I’m immediately caught from page one. However, I was a bit disappointed by the amount of backstory that was crammed right into the first part of the story after the initial plot-opener. To be honest, the book came to a screeching halt for me. Luckily, Priscilla the Great picked up speed again and built up to a fun and exciting page-turner, in part because of the great characters. Both Priscilla and her best friend, Tai, a genius, were laugh-out-loud funny and perfectly balanced with the plot.
Despite the rocky first bit of Priscilla the Great, I was quite impressed by the story as a whole (despite my cover love totally not being satisfied by the cover). It’s a bit like a cross between Percy Jackson and superhero comic – definitely entertaining. I give it a 4 out 5 overall, and I’d recommend it to fans of upper MG and lower YA reads, especially those who enjoy a good science fiction story.
It should be made known that I don’t read too much Middle Grade literature because it tends to be a bit too flat or unemotional for me. However, when the author, Sybil Nelson, approached me to try Priscilla the Great, I was intrigued by the premise containing superpowers. You all know I’m obsessed with superpowers. So, I decided to give it a go. Priscilla the Great is a fun, engaging tale of a young teenage girl grappling with the realities of life while throwing fire-starting, mind-reading and more into the mix. Written in a simple but descriptive prose, the book flows well, and kept me rooting for Priscilla throughout.
The book starts with a bang, showing us Priscilla in a precarious situation, then backtracks to show what led Priscilla to her current situation. I loved the beginning of the story. When books launch full-speed into the action, I’m immediately caught from page one. However, I was a bit disappointed by the amount of backstory that was crammed right into the first part of the story after the initial plot-opener. To be honest, the book came to a screeching halt for me. Luckily, Priscilla the Great picked up speed again and built up to a fun and exciting page-turner, in part because of the great characters. Both Priscilla and her best friend, Tai, a genius, were laugh-out-loud funny and perfectly balanced with the plot.
Despite the rocky first bit of Priscilla the Great, I was quite impressed by the story as a whole (despite my cover love totally not being satisfied by the cover). It’s a bit like a cross between Percy Jackson and superhero comic – definitely entertaining. I give it a 4 out 5 overall, and I’d recommend it to fans of upper MG and lower YA reads, especially those who enjoy a good science fiction story.
March 9, 2011
Priscilla the Great is a perfect example of what I love about middle grade books. From the characters, to the plot, to the tween-feel, Priscilla the Great has got it all.
Priscilla (aka Priss), has superpowers. She has super strength, super hearing, and fire power. Yes, she can make fire! What I really like is Priss’ personality. She is sarcastic and FIREy and just basically awesome!
Priss has an unusual family and I love all of their hilarious scenes. Her dad is WAY too protective, her mom is gone a lot, her older brother is a jock who adores Christina Aguilera, and her little twin brothers are totally outta’ control. Those little guys drive Priss CRAZY! Priss also has the world’s sweetest bestest friend named Tai.
The plot is fast-moving and full of mystery. I read the whole book in one day because I couldn’t stop! There is an evil organization with a grudge against Priss’ family. She sets out to make things right. As the plot moves along, Priss comes to understand her family and herself much better. Sybil Nelson has a wonderful way of creating suspense and fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together. So well done.
One of the best parts of Priscilla the Great is the tween-ness. I should know, I’m eleven! I can easily relate to Priscilla and the middle school drama is spot on realistic. I give Priscilla the Great a GREAT big HOT 5 stars!
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
Hey Priss, I think your finger is on fire! I like that fire is used on the cover. I don’t care for the blackboard, although I suppose it is there to represent middle school. It’s just so stark.
Priscilla (aka Priss), has superpowers. She has super strength, super hearing, and fire power. Yes, she can make fire! What I really like is Priss’ personality. She is sarcastic and FIREy and just basically awesome!
Priss has an unusual family and I love all of their hilarious scenes. Her dad is WAY too protective, her mom is gone a lot, her older brother is a jock who adores Christina Aguilera, and her little twin brothers are totally outta’ control. Those little guys drive Priss CRAZY! Priss also has the world’s sweetest bestest friend named Tai.
The plot is fast-moving and full of mystery. I read the whole book in one day because I couldn’t stop! There is an evil organization with a grudge against Priss’ family. She sets out to make things right. As the plot moves along, Priss comes to understand her family and herself much better. Sybil Nelson has a wonderful way of creating suspense and fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together. So well done.
One of the best parts of Priscilla the Great is the tween-ness. I should know, I’m eleven! I can easily relate to Priscilla and the middle school drama is spot on realistic. I give Priscilla the Great a GREAT big HOT 5 stars!
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
Hey Priss, I think your finger is on fire! I like that fire is used on the cover. I don’t care for the blackboard, although I suppose it is there to represent middle school. It’s just so stark.
March 19, 2011
Priscilla the Great was a really cute read and I had a lot of fun reading it, but there were things that could’ve been better.
Priscilla was a great character, but she sounded too old for her age. Actually, most all of the characters acted a little too old for their age. I felt I would’ve connected more to them if they had been, say, sixteen or seventeen. I liked how Priscilla was fiery<---haha! She did things her own way and had a mind of her own. I also liked how her family was close. It bugs me when a characters mom or dad or both is dead, so this was nice.
The super powers in the book were interesting. I liked how the characters had to train to use them the right way. I would love having Xi’s power to not feel anything and regenerate body parts. That would be useful for the daredevil tricks I have planned out.
Overall, this book was a fun middle grade story. I do wish the characters would’ve been older or they would’ve acted younger though. Priscilla the Great is hot reading!<--- see what I did again:)
Priscilla was a great character, but she sounded too old for her age. Actually, most all of the characters acted a little too old for their age. I felt I would’ve connected more to them if they had been, say, sixteen or seventeen. I liked how Priscilla was fiery<---haha! She did things her own way and had a mind of her own. I also liked how her family was close. It bugs me when a characters mom or dad or both is dead, so this was nice.
The super powers in the book were interesting. I liked how the characters had to train to use them the right way. I would love having Xi’s power to not feel anything and regenerate body parts. That would be useful for the daredevil tricks I have planned out.
Overall, this book was a fun middle grade story. I do wish the characters would’ve been older or they would’ve acted younger though. Priscilla the Great is hot reading!<--- see what I did again:)
January 21, 2011
Sybil contacted me about her blog tour a while ago, and I jumped at the chance. Priscilla the Great sounded hilarious. I knew it would totally make me nostalgic for junior high and all that 'lovely' drama (yes, that was sarcasm, although sadly some of it was actually nostalgic :P). Here's the blurb:
"Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!"
See how I couldn't resist it?!
I thought, 'If the blurb is this funny, the book will be hilarious!' and boy was I right!
Priscilla was an awesome narrator and a pretty fierce superhero too! I loved her jokes, and her whole inner monologue, which was also packed with jokes. I was laughing throughout this book, and when I wasn't laughing I was thinking about being twelve, almost thirteen, and how awesome it would have been to have superpowers...which was another thing that I totally predicted would happen while I read this book, and I was so right. I mean it would've been scary too, not knowing why it was happening or how to control it, but it would've been beyond cool! Yup, she's even got me talking like I'm in grade 7 again. :P
The characters in this book were described simply and we got to know each of them through their interactions with Priscilla. I absolutely loved her friends, Tai and Kyle, and her Christina Aguilera-loving brother was pretty awesome too. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just talk about her parents a little bit. Her dad was described as a body-building secret service agent at one point...and he was trying to get jiggy with it. Oh how I miss using words like jiggy, I think my friends would look at me weird if I said jiggy, but I'd still do it anyways. Her mom's name is Quindolyn, which I think is such a cool name...totally long and a little crazy, but I still love it.
This book is middle grade, so it's not too complicated and it's easy to follow. It's also not too long, but it packs a huge punch. The paperback copy that I have has 271 pages, and in those pages it was probably one of the most exciting books I've read in a while. I forgot how dramatic being a pre-teen/early teen is, and how exciting everything feels. Reading this book helped me remember all that, and I was as caught up in it as Priscilla was herself. I would've loved to have read this when I was younger because I loved the story now, as a girl a few months shy of 20, but I would have loved it even more if I were Priscilla's age. That being said, I think this book is versatile for many ages. Sybil did an amazing job at making this book applicable to more than just those in the middle grade age group, she uses vocab and Priscilla's thoughts to help put you in Priscilla's shoes. I'm gonna be honest too, I really miss reading books where the writing it a nice font, it's easy to read, doesn't hurt my eyes, and it looks pretty. So many adult or YA books have tiny writing on big pages, so it was a relief to read a book that had really clear font, and that looked amazing too. I loved the texts that were used...I'm a sucker for aesthetics inside and outside of a book. :P
Priscilla the Great was an adorable and funny story. I'd recommend it to anyone, from the target middle grade age group, to fledgling adults like myself, to parents, or anyone looking for a fun story, which will make them remember their own childhood...and be slightly envious that they didn't have superpowers, or an ice cream machine in their school. :)
"Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!"
See how I couldn't resist it?!
I thought, 'If the blurb is this funny, the book will be hilarious!' and boy was I right!
Priscilla was an awesome narrator and a pretty fierce superhero too! I loved her jokes, and her whole inner monologue, which was also packed with jokes. I was laughing throughout this book, and when I wasn't laughing I was thinking about being twelve, almost thirteen, and how awesome it would have been to have superpowers...which was another thing that I totally predicted would happen while I read this book, and I was so right. I mean it would've been scary too, not knowing why it was happening or how to control it, but it would've been beyond cool! Yup, she's even got me talking like I'm in grade 7 again. :P
The characters in this book were described simply and we got to know each of them through their interactions with Priscilla. I absolutely loved her friends, Tai and Kyle, and her Christina Aguilera-loving brother was pretty awesome too. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just talk about her parents a little bit. Her dad was described as a body-building secret service agent at one point...and he was trying to get jiggy with it. Oh how I miss using words like jiggy, I think my friends would look at me weird if I said jiggy, but I'd still do it anyways. Her mom's name is Quindolyn, which I think is such a cool name...totally long and a little crazy, but I still love it.
This book is middle grade, so it's not too complicated and it's easy to follow. It's also not too long, but it packs a huge punch. The paperback copy that I have has 271 pages, and in those pages it was probably one of the most exciting books I've read in a while. I forgot how dramatic being a pre-teen/early teen is, and how exciting everything feels. Reading this book helped me remember all that, and I was as caught up in it as Priscilla was herself. I would've loved to have read this when I was younger because I loved the story now, as a girl a few months shy of 20, but I would have loved it even more if I were Priscilla's age. That being said, I think this book is versatile for many ages. Sybil did an amazing job at making this book applicable to more than just those in the middle grade age group, she uses vocab and Priscilla's thoughts to help put you in Priscilla's shoes. I'm gonna be honest too, I really miss reading books where the writing it a nice font, it's easy to read, doesn't hurt my eyes, and it looks pretty. So many adult or YA books have tiny writing on big pages, so it was a relief to read a book that had really clear font, and that looked amazing too. I loved the texts that were used...I'm a sucker for aesthetics inside and outside of a book. :P
Priscilla the Great was an adorable and funny story. I'd recommend it to anyone, from the target middle grade age group, to fledgling adults like myself, to parents, or anyone looking for a fun story, which will make them remember their own childhood...and be slightly envious that they didn't have superpowers, or an ice cream machine in their school. :)
August 31, 2016
I received Priscilla the Great at the perfect time. When I got, I was feeling a little burnt out on reading. I had been reading a lot of "serious" stuff: Stephen King, a book about forensic science, poetry, things like The Replacement. I needed--and wanted--something fun. And that's where Priscilla comes in.
I was sucked in from page one. Priscilla's voice is so authentic, not just in her dialog, but also in the narration. As a writer, voice is something I struggle with, and I am amazed at how strong Priscilla's voice is. She sounded just the way I imagine a seventh grader would sound, and just the way I probably sounded as a seventh grader. The way she expresses herself through dialog is perfect. One scene that stood out to me in terms of dialog was when Priscilla's mom is talking to her about her powers, and she wants Priscilla to watch an education video about hormone progression. The way Priscilla reacts to her mom wanting her to watch this sex-ed type of video was fantastic. She claims there's no way she's going to watch the movie, she insists that she needs privacy, and she says it's unfair that she has to watch the video when her older brother doesn't. That's exactly how I imagine a seventh-grader reacting to this situation.
The way Priscilla describes things in the narration is also perfect (perfect might be my favorite adjective when it comes to this novel). The way she describes things is just the way I would expect a twelve year old to describe things. And it was those descriptions that kept me laughing. There are so many things I could list that had me cracking up while I read, but I'll only put my favorite down: "The next morning I woke up with a headache the size of Josh's ego" (p. 25). I thought this was a great line, not just because it was funny, but also because it's a great metaphor that is in no way a cliche. Plus, I think it gives us a little bit of insight about what Priscilla thinks of Josh, her older brother.
And speaking of Josh, as much as I like Priscilla, Josh was my favorite character in the novel. I love it that he's a Christina Aguilera-singing football player. I love it that he and Priscilla don't always get along, but at the end of the day, they love each other and are pretty protective of each other. I kind of see Josh as the perfect older brother, and I really hope we get to see more of him in the rest of the series.
The story itself is fun. There's action, friendship, a tiny bit of romance--all the things I love. It's perfectly paced, and there was never a dull moment (totally cliche, I know, but totally true). Priscilla the Great is engaging and funny with characters that I loved and really cared about.
I was sucked in from page one. Priscilla's voice is so authentic, not just in her dialog, but also in the narration. As a writer, voice is something I struggle with, and I am amazed at how strong Priscilla's voice is. She sounded just the way I imagine a seventh grader would sound, and just the way I probably sounded as a seventh grader. The way she expresses herself through dialog is perfect. One scene that stood out to me in terms of dialog was when Priscilla's mom is talking to her about her powers, and she wants Priscilla to watch an education video about hormone progression. The way Priscilla reacts to her mom wanting her to watch this sex-ed type of video was fantastic. She claims there's no way she's going to watch the movie, she insists that she needs privacy, and she says it's unfair that she has to watch the video when her older brother doesn't. That's exactly how I imagine a seventh-grader reacting to this situation.
The way Priscilla describes things in the narration is also perfect (perfect might be my favorite adjective when it comes to this novel). The way she describes things is just the way I would expect a twelve year old to describe things. And it was those descriptions that kept me laughing. There are so many things I could list that had me cracking up while I read, but I'll only put my favorite down: "The next morning I woke up with a headache the size of Josh's ego" (p. 25). I thought this was a great line, not just because it was funny, but also because it's a great metaphor that is in no way a cliche. Plus, I think it gives us a little bit of insight about what Priscilla thinks of Josh, her older brother.
And speaking of Josh, as much as I like Priscilla, Josh was my favorite character in the novel. I love it that he's a Christina Aguilera-singing football player. I love it that he and Priscilla don't always get along, but at the end of the day, they love each other and are pretty protective of each other. I kind of see Josh as the perfect older brother, and I really hope we get to see more of him in the rest of the series.
The story itself is fun. There's action, friendship, a tiny bit of romance--all the things I love. It's perfectly paced, and there was never a dull moment (totally cliche, I know, but totally true). Priscilla the Great is engaging and funny with characters that I loved and really cared about.
June 15, 2011
Priscilla, a feisty twelve-year-old, finds out she has the ability to shoot fire out of her fingers. She also discovers that she inherited her powers from her mother, who’s on her own quest to stop an evil scientist from carrying out his plans to use genetically enhanced children to do his dirty-work. Priscilla must eventually rescue her friends, family and the mutant children from the evil Dr. Selliwood
I liked the humor and funny scenes sprinkled throughout the story. Any book that can make me laugh will get a favourable review. Priss’ brand of humor was age appropriate and uniquely hers. The book was a quick, action-packed read, and though it is meant for middle grade kids, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.
I asked my son what he liked about the book. In typical boy fashion, he said, ‘people got kidnapped, things got blown up and guards were thrown aside like toothpicks. Oh and I also liked the devil twins and that angelic Tai.' (I kid you not, these are his words).
I wasn’t sure he’d actually read the book, but was convinced when he challenged me to quiz him on it. Amazing, the depth of details kids remember when it suits them. I had to stop him from telling me EVERYTHING that happened in the book by reminding him that I'd just read it.
I asked him if there was anything he didn’t like about the book and he grinned and said ‘nope’. For an adult, Priss’ capers would be beyond incredible, so I buried my jaded adult persona and read like my ten-year-old. I was soon swept along by Priss jetting here and there doing her super-girl thing. There was some violence, but it wasn't graphic.
If you want to encourage your children to read, this is a fun series to start them with. The characters are hugely entertaining and each is easily identifiable by their own brand of quirkiness. I’m chuckling just thinking about the chapter with the twins snot wars. I’m now into book two, thanks to the cliff-hanger at the end of book one.
See full review at http://readerssuite.blogspot.com/2011...
I liked the humor and funny scenes sprinkled throughout the story. Any book that can make me laugh will get a favourable review. Priss’ brand of humor was age appropriate and uniquely hers. The book was a quick, action-packed read, and though it is meant for middle grade kids, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.
I asked my son what he liked about the book. In typical boy fashion, he said, ‘people got kidnapped, things got blown up and guards were thrown aside like toothpicks. Oh and I also liked the devil twins and that angelic Tai.' (I kid you not, these are his words).
I wasn’t sure he’d actually read the book, but was convinced when he challenged me to quiz him on it. Amazing, the depth of details kids remember when it suits them. I had to stop him from telling me EVERYTHING that happened in the book by reminding him that I'd just read it.
I asked him if there was anything he didn’t like about the book and he grinned and said ‘nope’. For an adult, Priss’ capers would be beyond incredible, so I buried my jaded adult persona and read like my ten-year-old. I was soon swept along by Priss jetting here and there doing her super-girl thing. There was some violence, but it wasn't graphic.
If you want to encourage your children to read, this is a fun series to start them with. The characters are hugely entertaining and each is easily identifiable by their own brand of quirkiness. I’m chuckling just thinking about the chapter with the twins snot wars. I’m now into book two, thanks to the cliff-hanger at the end of book one.
See full review at http://readerssuite.blogspot.com/2011...
January 13, 2011
Priscilla the great is an understatement! Priscilla the amazing; Priscilla the awesome; Priscilla the fantastic is more accurate!
The book is about a young girl who discovers that she has some extraordinary talents. She can create fire with her fingertips and she also has superhuman strength and hearing. In addition to that, she has a sinister organisation on her case who are intent on hunting her down and experimenting on her and if that wasn't bad enough, she also has boy troubles (and hasn't even had her first kiss yet). She's dealing with all the usual problems facing most young girls: an unrequited crush, a love-hate relationship with the boy-next-door and issues with her best friend, but she also has to face several life and death situations.
This was a really fun and enjoyable read. A breath of fresh air! Priscilla is a great character and I absolutely loved her fantastical story. Her and her family reminded me a little bit of The Incredibles. They're certainly not your average all-American family. I liked the way they were each individualised and their personalities developed - overprotective Dad, troublesome twins, secretive (and often absent mother) and Christina Aguilera music loving brother. I thought the way their secrets all started to unravel throughout the book kept the suspense and intrigue high.
It was interesting finding out about how Priscilla ended up with superpowers and during the second-half of the story the pace really picked up and got very exciting. I ended up taking this to bed with me to finish because I just couldn't wait until the morning to find out the conclusion of the story. It ended on such a cliffhanger though!! I didn't realise that this was going to be a series but there are a further four books planned so I'm thrilled that I'll get to read more of Priscilla's story.
The book is about a young girl who discovers that she has some extraordinary talents. She can create fire with her fingertips and she also has superhuman strength and hearing. In addition to that, she has a sinister organisation on her case who are intent on hunting her down and experimenting on her and if that wasn't bad enough, she also has boy troubles (and hasn't even had her first kiss yet). She's dealing with all the usual problems facing most young girls: an unrequited crush, a love-hate relationship with the boy-next-door and issues with her best friend, but she also has to face several life and death situations.
This was a really fun and enjoyable read. A breath of fresh air! Priscilla is a great character and I absolutely loved her fantastical story. Her and her family reminded me a little bit of The Incredibles. They're certainly not your average all-American family. I liked the way they were each individualised and their personalities developed - overprotective Dad, troublesome twins, secretive (and often absent mother) and Christina Aguilera music loving brother. I thought the way their secrets all started to unravel throughout the book kept the suspense and intrigue high.
It was interesting finding out about how Priscilla ended up with superpowers and during the second-half of the story the pace really picked up and got very exciting. I ended up taking this to bed with me to finish because I just couldn't wait until the morning to find out the conclusion of the story. It ended on such a cliffhanger though!! I didn't realise that this was going to be a series but there are a further four books planned so I'm thrilled that I'll get to read more of Priscilla's story.
February 22, 2012
Priscilla the Great is a hilarious page-turner full of action, spunk and, of course, way cool powers. If you're looking for a book that actually makes you laugh out loud, you must read this!
A pretty typical middle school girl with a smarty best friend, a comic book addiction and a crush on the school hottie suddenly finds herself setting things on fire, hearing conversations from afar and being able to lift cars. Her mom is so gone and off doing whatever in supposedly Dubai, her little devil twin brothers are trying to take the car out for a spin, her older brother knows way more Cristina Aguilera songs than she does and her over-protective WWE wannabe dad will break her bedroom door down in concern if she doesn't answer it quickly enough, so how can these crazy things be happening to her when she's the sane one in the family? She's the one always trying to keep everyone from falling into disaster.
Well, it's up to Priss to now save not only her family but the world as well from deadly kid assassins and a psycho teacher, who's not just some weirdo. It's a good thing she has powers to get the job done.
The book opens with her being kidnapped, so from page one you know it will be a scorching read full of intrigue, mystery, danger and hilarity. If you're a cool junior higher, don't be put off by the cartoony cover. PTG will not let you down or be a waste of time or your scant cash. And if you're older than the target market, know that it's a funny and fresh read and its scope goes far beyond the typical MG. It is bursting with appeal for readers of all ages.
A pretty typical middle school girl with a smarty best friend, a comic book addiction and a crush on the school hottie suddenly finds herself setting things on fire, hearing conversations from afar and being able to lift cars. Her mom is so gone and off doing whatever in supposedly Dubai, her little devil twin brothers are trying to take the car out for a spin, her older brother knows way more Cristina Aguilera songs than she does and her over-protective WWE wannabe dad will break her bedroom door down in concern if she doesn't answer it quickly enough, so how can these crazy things be happening to her when she's the sane one in the family? She's the one always trying to keep everyone from falling into disaster.
Well, it's up to Priss to now save not only her family but the world as well from deadly kid assassins and a psycho teacher, who's not just some weirdo. It's a good thing she has powers to get the job done.
The book opens with her being kidnapped, so from page one you know it will be a scorching read full of intrigue, mystery, danger and hilarity. If you're a cool junior higher, don't be put off by the cartoony cover. PTG will not let you down or be a waste of time or your scant cash. And if you're older than the target market, know that it's a funny and fresh read and its scope goes far beyond the typical MG. It is bursting with appeal for readers of all ages.
December 22, 2010
I have to admit I wasn't sure of what to expect with Priscilla. It sounded awesome, but would it be awesome? I wasn't very sure.
Boy, I was wrong.
I found myself liking Priss from the first chapter - literally. She is, in one word, awesome. (I know, I need to broaden my horizons vocabulary-wise, but this is works really well in here). If she were real, I'd want her to be my friend. She is a fun, feisty, determined, and really cool girl, and the way she dealt with everything was very realistic (with that I mean she was neither too mature nor too immature) and I really liked the mix of action and Middle School drama. I thought that was so. Damn. Cool.
About the boys, I can't say much, but it's pretty obvious from the beginning someone has a thing for her, and I absolutely adore when boys do't know what to say when they like a girl. It's so endearing.
Now, to the genius bff. I can't say this is very original, but it really works with the storyline, and Tai definitely won me over.
This book is full of action and I was always either laughing like crazy, or awing like crazy (is that even a verb?) or giggling like crazy. I was never bored, never pissed off at anyone. This is a highly entertaining read, and though it's obviously aimed at Middle Grade audiences, I think older people would enjoy it too.
Now, when is the next one coming?
Boy, I was wrong.
I found myself liking Priss from the first chapter - literally. She is, in one word, awesome. (I know, I need to broaden my horizons vocabulary-wise, but this is works really well in here). If she were real, I'd want her to be my friend. She is a fun, feisty, determined, and really cool girl, and the way she dealt with everything was very realistic (with that I mean she was neither too mature nor too immature) and I really liked the mix of action and Middle School drama. I thought that was so. Damn. Cool.
About the boys, I can't say much, but it's pretty obvious from the beginning someone has a thing for her, and I absolutely adore when boys do't know what to say when they like a girl. It's so endearing.
Now, to the genius bff. I can't say this is very original, but it really works with the storyline, and Tai definitely won me over.
This book is full of action and I was always either laughing like crazy, or awing like crazy (is that even a verb?) or giggling like crazy. I was never bored, never pissed off at anyone. This is a highly entertaining read, and though it's obviously aimed at Middle Grade audiences, I think older people would enjoy it too.
Now, when is the next one coming?
January 20, 2013
It's like Joss Whedon's Buffy, for a younger set! (And without vampires, thankfully. Those are so done to death.) That's what I found myself thinking as I read Nelson's fun, sassy, super-powered book. Hot-headed, kinda-dorky Priscilla discovers some serious girl power as she approaches the often horrible age of thirteen, and learns some awesome things about her family along the way. Her narrative is fun, clever, and sassy, without being annoying or dumbed-down. Priss and her friends and siblings are smart and irascible, with one-liners that kept making me giggle. It has the feel of a superhero comic book or family-level action movie, and I would love to see it turned into one. Modern middle-school girls would eat this story up, I'm betting, but even as a woman in her mid-30s (and of course a Whedon fan) I really enjoyed it.
The ending leaves me ready to leap into the sequel, since it throws us a huge twist and leaves some questions unanswered. Still, it wasn't an unfair "What? You can't end there!" kind of ending, so I forgive it. Great work!
The ending leaves me ready to leap into the sequel, since it throws us a huge twist and leaves some questions unanswered. Still, it wasn't an unfair "What? You can't end there!" kind of ending, so I forgive it. Great work!
April 6, 2015
Let me say first here that Author Sybil Nelson is one amazing author. The way this book flowed and topics that were dealt with were so engaging that you feel for the characters as if you were there in their life's. You want to reach over an hug Priscilla and let her know:
To read more of my review: Breath of Life
To read more of my review: Breath of Life
March 24, 2011
Author Interview & Book Giveaway ends 4/15/11 http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....
4.5 Stars
Fun middle grade read
4.5 Stars
Fun middle grade read
March 3, 2020
Rehab
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 3, 2020ahah i loved reading this series on my kindle when i was young XD
May 30, 2023
The first chapter didn't quite flow, but the rest of the book was amazing! Some puberty talk, but nothing inappropriate for middle schoolers. I would definitely read more
December 29, 2012
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!
Priscilla the Great is an amazing middle grade series about a young girl who can shoot fire from her fingers. Priscilla's mom is never around much since she's doing good deeds clear across the world, so it's just Priscilla, her dad, her older brother, and her two younger twin brothers. Talk about a lot of testosterone.
When Priscilla gets her first period, she starts to develop a lot of weird abilities that ...well....she's never even heard of anyone experiencing before. She's faster than normal, she can hear everything, and, oh, yeah....she can shoot fire from her fingers! Life has taken a new turn for Priscilla, and she's not quite sure how to handle it.
While trying to balance her new found powers, Priscilla also has to attend middle school, fight her feelings for her crush, develop new feelings, and spend as much time as possible with her bestest best friend in the world. But soon, Priscilla learns that things are much bigger than she once realized. Her mom? Yeah, her mom isn't no normal mom. Her mom is a badass superhero that is out trying to save the world. And she wants Priscilla to help her. Join Priscilla and her family and friends to discover if they succeed.
I have such a strong passion for middle grade novels, because I truly believe that some of them are absolutely brilliant. Sometimes I want to take a break from thinking...from vampires, werewolves, aliens, lovey dovey romances...all of that jazz. Sometimes I just want to jump into the mind of a seventh grader and join them on the wacky experiences that make up their lives. I can usually tell if I am going to like a mg novel based on the cover, so I felt pretty secure with Priscilla the Great. I wasn't disappointed. I loved Priscilla. Actually, I loved the whole entire book. I found it to be light and refreshing, as well as comical and spunky. I loved it.
Priscilla was such an amazing character for me! I love reading about strong girls and women. There's something so empowering about watching/reading them take charge and try to fix everything themselves. I hate....let me stress this....haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate! reading about females who solely depend on men to fix their problems. Men aren't all that! Women are pretty dang tough too! I felt that that was greatly portrayed in Priscilla the Great, and I would encourage parents to introduce this book to every girl.
Apparently I have some huge fascination with superheroes that I was never aware of. I don't read comic books. I don't really care about superhero movies. Man, I haven't even watched The Avengers yet. But earlier this year...well...I guess it will be last year when you guys read this....I read Dark Star by Bethany Frenette. LOVED that book! Anyways, the book is about superheroes, and I just went gaga for superheroes! I can't get enough of them! Same thing with this book, I lovvvved the superhero aspect! I thought that Priscilla's powers were just so cool! I couldn't get enough of it. I also enjoyed watching Priscilla's powers develop as well as her maturity. Don't get too excited over the maturity thing. Thirteen year olds can only mature so much. But I did notice a difference in her character by the end of the book. It was a really enjoyable experience to watch Priscilla's growth throughout the book.
I would absolutely recommend this book to every middle school and high school level child. Heck, I'd even recommend this to adults who enjoy mg books. I know that I sure enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series! Priscilla the Great is a book that will keep you on your toes and leave you craving more.
Pages: 309
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Publication Date: December 13th, 2010
Rating: [rating: 4]
Teaser Quote: "I caught up with Charlie first. I picked him up and threw him on the couch. Then I sat on him and farted. Yeah, I farted. So what? When dealing with little brothers, sometimes you have to get gross." (pg 49.)
Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!
Priscilla the Great is an amazing middle grade series about a young girl who can shoot fire from her fingers. Priscilla's mom is never around much since she's doing good deeds clear across the world, so it's just Priscilla, her dad, her older brother, and her two younger twin brothers. Talk about a lot of testosterone.
When Priscilla gets her first period, she starts to develop a lot of weird abilities that ...well....she's never even heard of anyone experiencing before. She's faster than normal, she can hear everything, and, oh, yeah....she can shoot fire from her fingers! Life has taken a new turn for Priscilla, and she's not quite sure how to handle it.
While trying to balance her new found powers, Priscilla also has to attend middle school, fight her feelings for her crush, develop new feelings, and spend as much time as possible with her bestest best friend in the world. But soon, Priscilla learns that things are much bigger than she once realized. Her mom? Yeah, her mom isn't no normal mom. Her mom is a badass superhero that is out trying to save the world. And she wants Priscilla to help her. Join Priscilla and her family and friends to discover if they succeed.
I have such a strong passion for middle grade novels, because I truly believe that some of them are absolutely brilliant. Sometimes I want to take a break from thinking...from vampires, werewolves, aliens, lovey dovey romances...all of that jazz. Sometimes I just want to jump into the mind of a seventh grader and join them on the wacky experiences that make up their lives. I can usually tell if I am going to like a mg novel based on the cover, so I felt pretty secure with Priscilla the Great. I wasn't disappointed. I loved Priscilla. Actually, I loved the whole entire book. I found it to be light and refreshing, as well as comical and spunky. I loved it.
Priscilla was such an amazing character for me! I love reading about strong girls and women. There's something so empowering about watching/reading them take charge and try to fix everything themselves. I hate....let me stress this....haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate! reading about females who solely depend on men to fix their problems. Men aren't all that! Women are pretty dang tough too! I felt that that was greatly portrayed in Priscilla the Great, and I would encourage parents to introduce this book to every girl.
Apparently I have some huge fascination with superheroes that I was never aware of. I don't read comic books. I don't really care about superhero movies. Man, I haven't even watched The Avengers yet. But earlier this year...well...I guess it will be last year when you guys read this....I read Dark Star by Bethany Frenette. LOVED that book! Anyways, the book is about superheroes, and I just went gaga for superheroes! I can't get enough of them! Same thing with this book, I lovvvved the superhero aspect! I thought that Priscilla's powers were just so cool! I couldn't get enough of it. I also enjoyed watching Priscilla's powers develop as well as her maturity. Don't get too excited over the maturity thing. Thirteen year olds can only mature so much. But I did notice a difference in her character by the end of the book. It was a really enjoyable experience to watch Priscilla's growth throughout the book.
I would absolutely recommend this book to every middle school and high school level child. Heck, I'd even recommend this to adults who enjoy mg books. I know that I sure enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series! Priscilla the Great is a book that will keep you on your toes and leave you craving more.
Pages: 309
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Publication Date: December 13th, 2010
Rating: [rating: 4]
Teaser Quote: "I caught up with Charlie first. I picked him up and threw him on the couch. Then I sat on him and farted. Yeah, I farted. So what? When dealing with little brothers, sometimes you have to get gross." (pg 49.)
October 9, 2011
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson is the ultimate example of what middle grade fiction should be. The book has found just the right balance between the believable and the ridiculous. Let me explain:
Priscilla is your fairly typical 12 year old. She is starting to get interested in boys (giggle) she argues yells at her twin brothers who like to torment her, and she has a tendency to throw a 'Prissy Fit' when she doesn't get her way, and, she's started going through puberty. But, it turns out, now that puberty has started, she has turned into a human torch, and she now has the ability to shot fire from her fingers, as well as a few other powers here and there. Really?! As if puberty wasn't bad enough by itself, Priscilla now has to worry about spontaneous combustion.
I loved Priscilla. I would definitely be her friend, if I was 10 years younger. Even though she is only 12, she already has a very defined personality and sense of self. She's scared by what's happening to her, so she doesn't talk about it. She's worried about how her parents will react, and what is really going on with her, and she's starting to think that her parents are hiding things from her. So, she confides in her best friend, Tai, and later, her older brother Josh, who is really one of my favorite characters. He is such the perfect older brother.
I never once doubted that Priscilla was 12. There are some MG books you read and forget they are supposed to be 12, because they seem much older. But you never forget Priscilla's age. In fact, the only character in the entire book was me to believe, because I had a little time believing that Tai was as smart as she is. It's possible, but it was a little... far stretch. But, Priscilla was very dramatic, she thinks nothing is wrong with throwing a fit to get what she wants or as a tool to distract people from what's really important, and she definitely thinks that everything important in life is about her. Sound familiar? Ya, we've all been there. :)
But, when it really matters, Priscilla is able to come together and take care of what she needs. And she believes in herself. I think that this is something that adults often forget. May of the things that people think we are capable of is because they no longer believe in themselves. Priscilla handles an awful lot, and a lot of it is something that she probably couldn't have been able to handle. But, she doesn't think it that way. She has complete faith in herself, and even when she knows she's afraid, she knows what people are counting on her when it's important. So, she doesn't even consider failure, and she manages to just fine.
Priscilla the Great is a great book, one that completely enjoying. I cannot wait to wait to see what else can happen will happen to Priscilla. Seriously. If you enjoy awesome MG books, especially ones the end up having to do with people becoming superheros (win!) you are missing out if you read this book as soon possible!
Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson is the ultimate example of what middle grade fiction should be. The book has found just the right balance between the believable and the ridiculous. Let me explain:
Priscilla is your fairly typical 12 year old. She is starting to get interested in boys (giggle) she argues yells at her twin brothers who like to torment her, and she has a tendency to throw a 'Prissy Fit' when she doesn't get her way, and, she's started going through puberty. But, it turns out, now that puberty has started, she has turned into a human torch, and she now has the ability to shot fire from her fingers, as well as a few other powers here and there. Really?! As if puberty wasn't bad enough by itself, Priscilla now has to worry about spontaneous combustion.
I loved Priscilla. I would definitely be her friend, if I was 10 years younger. Even though she is only 12, she already has a very defined personality and sense of self. She's scared by what's happening to her, so she doesn't talk about it. She's worried about how her parents will react, and what is really going on with her, and she's starting to think that her parents are hiding things from her. So, she confides in her best friend, Tai, and later, her older brother Josh, who is really one of my favorite characters. He is such the perfect older brother.
I never once doubted that Priscilla was 12. There are some MG books you read and forget they are supposed to be 12, because they seem much older. But you never forget Priscilla's age. In fact, the only character in the entire book was me to believe, because I had a little time believing that Tai was as smart as she is. It's possible, but it was a little... far stretch. But, Priscilla was very dramatic, she thinks nothing is wrong with throwing a fit to get what she wants or as a tool to distract people from what's really important, and she definitely thinks that everything important in life is about her. Sound familiar? Ya, we've all been there. :)
But, when it really matters, Priscilla is able to come together and take care of what she needs. And she believes in herself. I think that this is something that adults often forget. May of the things that people think we are capable of is because they no longer believe in themselves. Priscilla handles an awful lot, and a lot of it is something that she probably couldn't have been able to handle. But, she doesn't think it that way. She has complete faith in herself, and even when she knows she's afraid, she knows what people are counting on her when it's important. So, she doesn't even consider failure, and she manages to just fine.
Priscilla the Great is a great book, one that completely enjoying. I cannot wait to wait to see what else can happen will happen to Priscilla. Seriously. If you enjoy awesome MG books, especially ones the end up having to do with people becoming superheros (win!) you are missing out if you read this book as soon possible!
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
PRISCILLA THE GREAT is filled with enough action to satisfy even a hard-to-please middle grade reader. It's a Fantastic Four-type adventure but with a middle school twist.
Priscilla isn't particularly popular. She is into video games and comic book heroes. Her best friend, Kyle, offers her some competition, but most of the time he is afraid she'll beat him to a pulp. She beats him in video games and basketball, but amazingly he keeps coming back for more.
When Priscilla begins developing some strange abilities, even her extremely intelligent friend, Tai, can't figure out what is going on. The first unusual characteristic Priscilla seems to be exhibiting is the ability to set things on fire. It is an overheated feeling that accelerates to the point that Priscilla's fingertips become like flame throwers. Next, she notices a dramatic increase in her strength. These powers are accompanied by other strange feelings, and keeping them under control is a challenge.
At the same time Priscilla is struggling to understand the odd changes in her body, her father is being his usual over-protective self - requiring her to check in multiple times a day and not allowing any sort of after school activities or social life. Not having a cell phone is bad enough, but not being allowed to join in on the traditional festivities of middle school life is taking its toll.
Priscilla has taken a sudden interest in one particular boy. She would love nothing more than to have a woman-to-woman talk with her mother, but that's impossible. Her mom is always away on business. That woman's job is at the top of her priority list, with her family way down on the bottom. There is just something weird about hardly seeing her mom and having her father eyeing her every move and monitoring her every breath. Imagine living in a house your entire life and never being allowed to set foot in the basement! That's what Priscilla faces, and she vows to finally get to the bottom of all the strangeness.
Author Sybil Nelson keeps readers turning the pages with plenty of fast-paced adventure, including superhuman powers, mysterious corporations, and shady scientific experiments. Her endearing characters will capture readers and have them believing every wild and impossible situation that unfolds.
PRISCILLA THE GREAT is filled with enough action to satisfy even a hard-to-please middle grade reader. It's a Fantastic Four-type adventure but with a middle school twist.
Priscilla isn't particularly popular. She is into video games and comic book heroes. Her best friend, Kyle, offers her some competition, but most of the time he is afraid she'll beat him to a pulp. She beats him in video games and basketball, but amazingly he keeps coming back for more.
When Priscilla begins developing some strange abilities, even her extremely intelligent friend, Tai, can't figure out what is going on. The first unusual characteristic Priscilla seems to be exhibiting is the ability to set things on fire. It is an overheated feeling that accelerates to the point that Priscilla's fingertips become like flame throwers. Next, she notices a dramatic increase in her strength. These powers are accompanied by other strange feelings, and keeping them under control is a challenge.
At the same time Priscilla is struggling to understand the odd changes in her body, her father is being his usual over-protective self - requiring her to check in multiple times a day and not allowing any sort of after school activities or social life. Not having a cell phone is bad enough, but not being allowed to join in on the traditional festivities of middle school life is taking its toll.
Priscilla has taken a sudden interest in one particular boy. She would love nothing more than to have a woman-to-woman talk with her mother, but that's impossible. Her mom is always away on business. That woman's job is at the top of her priority list, with her family way down on the bottom. There is just something weird about hardly seeing her mom and having her father eyeing her every move and monitoring her every breath. Imagine living in a house your entire life and never being allowed to set foot in the basement! That's what Priscilla faces, and she vows to finally get to the bottom of all the strangeness.
Author Sybil Nelson keeps readers turning the pages with plenty of fast-paced adventure, including superhuman powers, mysterious corporations, and shady scientific experiments. Her endearing characters will capture readers and have them believing every wild and impossible situation that unfolds.
April 12, 2011
Book Blog Stuff – Book Review
Priscilla the Great Book 1
Book Blurb – (from amazon.com)
Did you ever want a blowtorch for a finger? Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn't hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.
Review
With an over protective father, Priscilla keeps a fairly low profile in her hometown of River Bend, PA. About the biggest news in her 7th grade life is wondering when she will get her first kiss. With her mom often traveling on business, she longs for girl time and maybe a discussion on all this hormone stuff. At least she has her BFF Tai, the awkward science genius that she is. Prissy doesn’t have the brains she has but she sure can stir up some heat once in a while. As a matter of fact it’s becoming quite frequent and she really needs to find out why. She runs to Tai with her secret of producing flames and hearing voices. SNAP - her somewhat normal life bursts into action as she discovers she has secret powers. With her older brother’s help, they confront mom and dad about the truth which comes with awesome responsibilities.
As a reader I like twists and turns that keep my attention and surprise my mind. Priscilla the Great filled that role fully. An incredible mix of young people’s drama and fast moving events keep this book rolling from start to finish. And speaking of finish, Holy Hotdogs! Don’t do that to me!! Where is the next book?? Don’t worry……There are plenty more. Check them out at: www.priscillathegreat.com
~ Lauri Chandler
www.bookblogstuff.blogspot.com
Rating - HOT
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are strictly my own based on my personal reading experience and in no way influenced by others. I was not compensated for this review.
Book Details
Title: Priscilla the Great Book 1
Author: Sybil Nelson
Format: e-book about 276 pages
Publisher: WorldMaker Media (December 14, 2010)
Review Source: Snagged a copy from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing
Priscilla the Great Book 1
Book Blurb – (from amazon.com)
Did you ever want a blowtorch for a finger? Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn't hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.
Review
With an over protective father, Priscilla keeps a fairly low profile in her hometown of River Bend, PA. About the biggest news in her 7th grade life is wondering when she will get her first kiss. With her mom often traveling on business, she longs for girl time and maybe a discussion on all this hormone stuff. At least she has her BFF Tai, the awkward science genius that she is. Prissy doesn’t have the brains she has but she sure can stir up some heat once in a while. As a matter of fact it’s becoming quite frequent and she really needs to find out why. She runs to Tai with her secret of producing flames and hearing voices. SNAP - her somewhat normal life bursts into action as she discovers she has secret powers. With her older brother’s help, they confront mom and dad about the truth which comes with awesome responsibilities.
As a reader I like twists and turns that keep my attention and surprise my mind. Priscilla the Great filled that role fully. An incredible mix of young people’s drama and fast moving events keep this book rolling from start to finish. And speaking of finish, Holy Hotdogs! Don’t do that to me!! Where is the next book?? Don’t worry……There are plenty more. Check them out at: www.priscillathegreat.com
~ Lauri Chandler
www.bookblogstuff.blogspot.com
Rating - HOT
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are strictly my own based on my personal reading experience and in no way influenced by others. I was not compensated for this review.
Book Details
Title: Priscilla the Great Book 1
Author: Sybil Nelson
Format: e-book about 276 pages
Publisher: WorldMaker Media (December 14, 2010)
Review Source: Snagged a copy from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing
November 6, 2011
Priscilla the Great is and immediately engaging novel, clever, quirky, and comical. The author, Sybil Nelson, has created a character who is incredibly endearing while still feeling "real". Well, as real a a girl who can start fires with her hands could possibly be! She is exactly what you want in a heroine, especially one whose destined to develop superpower powers and live up to the novel's title.
The story starts with a prologue with our heroine bound in a mysterious room, held by menacing captors, but despite her situation you immediatley get a feel for her sarcastic and optimistic attitude. From there, Sybil takes us to the origins of Priscilla's powers, chiefly the ability to create fire and warmth in her hands. She develops her powers while struggling through the typical dilemmas of a middle school teenage girl, but the addition of the development of superpowers and the inability to control them, especially ones as dangerous as inadvertently starting fires and shooting flames from her fingertips adds an extra dimension to her stress and insecurity, making it anything other than typical.
All through the early parts of the novel there are hints that Priscilla's childhood has been a very strange one: her mom is absent, far more often than she's present, and the excuses her parents give are flimsy and inconsistent. Her dad is comically overprotective. The basement is forbidden territory for any of the children to enter and none of them have, but it's not as though they haven't tried; a sophisticated defense system that prevents them. Priscilla, being perceptive and clever, knows that her childhood is weird, but what can she do? Its her childhood. Besides she has enough to think about, what with countering the dangerous hijinks of her five-year-old adorable but destructive twin little brothers, whom she has aptly nicknamed "the devil twins" and beginning her quest for love with the unbelievably cute Spencer Callahan, along with dealing with stresses created by her older brother Josh's love life. Just as it finally looks like Priscilla might solve all of her middle school angsty problems, the real action begins as the truth behind Priscilla's mysterious parents and her own powers unfolds in an action-packed and hilarious adventure.
I highly recommend this novel for tweens and above.
The story starts with a prologue with our heroine bound in a mysterious room, held by menacing captors, but despite her situation you immediatley get a feel for her sarcastic and optimistic attitude. From there, Sybil takes us to the origins of Priscilla's powers, chiefly the ability to create fire and warmth in her hands. She develops her powers while struggling through the typical dilemmas of a middle school teenage girl, but the addition of the development of superpowers and the inability to control them, especially ones as dangerous as inadvertently starting fires and shooting flames from her fingertips adds an extra dimension to her stress and insecurity, making it anything other than typical.
All through the early parts of the novel there are hints that Priscilla's childhood has been a very strange one: her mom is absent, far more often than she's present, and the excuses her parents give are flimsy and inconsistent. Her dad is comically overprotective. The basement is forbidden territory for any of the children to enter and none of them have, but it's not as though they haven't tried; a sophisticated defense system that prevents them. Priscilla, being perceptive and clever, knows that her childhood is weird, but what can she do? Its her childhood. Besides she has enough to think about, what with countering the dangerous hijinks of her five-year-old adorable but destructive twin little brothers, whom she has aptly nicknamed "the devil twins" and beginning her quest for love with the unbelievably cute Spencer Callahan, along with dealing with stresses created by her older brother Josh's love life. Just as it finally looks like Priscilla might solve all of her middle school angsty problems, the real action begins as the truth behind Priscilla's mysterious parents and her own powers unfolds in an action-packed and hilarious adventure.
I highly recommend this novel for tweens and above.
March 4, 2013
If Nancy Drew had a child one of the X-Men, you'd have someone almost as awesome as Priscilla the Great. This story is written for preteens through young adults, but it's an excellent read for all ages. As far as why I chose to read it instead of one of my normal fantasy books, well . . . slight confession: I've read all the Nancy Drew series, most of the Hardy Boys, all the Tom Swift, all the Cherry Ames . . . and lots of other books geared to young adult. It's what I read before someone introduced me to my first Xanth book at the age of 14. I've actually had this one in my Kindle for over a year now (along with a bazillion other books, or however many the Kindle holds)
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. Priscilla is a likable character who goes through the standard frustrations of a 12 year old, but also has a few twists thrown in. She's not without her personality flaws, but they're realistic and the reader can totally sympathize with them. She's got a brothers that make her life difficult, as brothers are supposed to do, and an overprotective father. Her mother is always absent, which upsets Priscilla more than perhaps anything. A couple of boys and a best friend complicate matters, as they should. That's their job after all.
Then information about the Selliwood Institute starts to appear. I can't tell you too much without giving spoilers. Mix in shady experiments, children, government plots and you get a story that's filled with adventure, danger and mystery. There's no end to the suspense. I started reading and didn't stop until I had finished the story a few hours later.
The only negative I found was that certain things stretch believability a little bit, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story, and it might not be a problem for it's target audience, which is probably people under the age of 40. *chuckling*
I highly recommend this book for preteens on up. It's a great story with characters that the reader can relate to. I've already purchased the next in the series and will be getting more as I finish each one. Oh yeah, there's about 8 or so of them, so it's plenty to keep a reader interested.
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. Priscilla is a likable character who goes through the standard frustrations of a 12 year old, but also has a few twists thrown in. She's not without her personality flaws, but they're realistic and the reader can totally sympathize with them. She's got a brothers that make her life difficult, as brothers are supposed to do, and an overprotective father. Her mother is always absent, which upsets Priscilla more than perhaps anything. A couple of boys and a best friend complicate matters, as they should. That's their job after all.
Then information about the Selliwood Institute starts to appear. I can't tell you too much without giving spoilers. Mix in shady experiments, children, government plots and you get a story that's filled with adventure, danger and mystery. There's no end to the suspense. I started reading and didn't stop until I had finished the story a few hours later.
The only negative I found was that certain things stretch believability a little bit, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story, and it might not be a problem for it's target audience, which is probably people under the age of 40. *chuckling*
I highly recommend this book for preteens on up. It's a great story with characters that the reader can relate to. I've already purchased the next in the series and will be getting more as I finish each one. Oh yeah, there's about 8 or so of them, so it's plenty to keep a reader interested.
December 22, 2010
I totally agree with the description, Priscilla the Great was definitely a page-turner! At first I was a little hesitant because it didn't seem like a lot was happening. The beginning was more of just about Priscilla and her normal life and how she's adjusting to these powers that just randomly show up one day. BUT! When the action starts happening, things started picking up.
Another thing that was great about Priscilla the Great was that it was really funny! Priscilla is such a hilarious character that she would totally make you laugh out loud while you read. She definitely made me laugh. Her whole family was actually pretty funny too, from her overprotective dad to her mischievous little twin brothers who shoot their snot at things, and sometimes even people.
Even though Priscilla developed superpowers, she's still a pretty normal girl and I think that anyone can relate to her. Even though she's not totally normal, she still has crushes on boys, has to go to school, gets made fun of, and has a best friend. Speaking of Priscilla's best friend, Tai, she's like supersmart and I think the greatest friend that anyone could ever wish for. She's always there for Priscilla when Priscilla has a problem, whether it's about boys or her family.
I also wanted to add that I thought the superpowers were definitely cool in this book because in most stories you read, the person has like one power, but in this one they can have multiple superpowers! For example, Priscilla has fire power, can hear other people's thoughts, and I think that she also has superstrength.
I really liked this book and would recommend it to other people who are looking for a book to knock their socks off. I'm not sure if it's exactly young adult, but it's really funny and has some good action scenes, which I really enjoyed. It's also a pretty light read and if you're looking for a change from depressing love stories or vampires, I think that you'll like it and probably end up laugh your head off :D
Another thing that was great about Priscilla the Great was that it was really funny! Priscilla is such a hilarious character that she would totally make you laugh out loud while you read. She definitely made me laugh. Her whole family was actually pretty funny too, from her overprotective dad to her mischievous little twin brothers who shoot their snot at things, and sometimes even people.
Even though Priscilla developed superpowers, she's still a pretty normal girl and I think that anyone can relate to her. Even though she's not totally normal, she still has crushes on boys, has to go to school, gets made fun of, and has a best friend. Speaking of Priscilla's best friend, Tai, she's like supersmart and I think the greatest friend that anyone could ever wish for. She's always there for Priscilla when Priscilla has a problem, whether it's about boys or her family.
I also wanted to add that I thought the superpowers were definitely cool in this book because in most stories you read, the person has like one power, but in this one they can have multiple superpowers! For example, Priscilla has fire power, can hear other people's thoughts, and I think that she also has superstrength.
I really liked this book and would recommend it to other people who are looking for a book to knock their socks off. I'm not sure if it's exactly young adult, but it's really funny and has some good action scenes, which I really enjoyed. It's also a pretty light read and if you're looking for a change from depressing love stories or vampires, I think that you'll like it and probably end up laugh your head off :D
January 25, 2011
Priscilla is like every other typical 7th grader; she goes to school, plays video games, and hangs out with her friends. However, there is one slight difference between her and the other kids on the block. Priscilla, or Priss as she is called, can make fire come out of her fingers.
From Amazon: With genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.
The cover is cute but I wish the hand was a little girlier (I know she is a tomboy) and a more realistic fire on the finger. But forget the cover, the story is SO MUCH FUN! Oh yes, I used capital letters.
Nelson must have known that I love the movies Spy Kids and Sky High! I mean I have seen Sky High at least fifty times! Errrrr….with my kids, of course. Like those movies, Priscilla the Great just made me happy, happy, happy!! I am keeping this book for my kids to read when they get to be teens. Try a little Karate Kid plus young romance plus family fun.
This is an awesome middle grade book with some talk of kissing boys – typical behavior – and mentions of sex – more typical thoughts of teens, but wasn’t sure how parents would think of it even though it is very minor. It is definitely a read for the whole family once the kids are teens.
What makes me so happy? Priss is amazing and sarcastic! She has a fantastic best friend, Tai, who is smart and dedicated. I looked forward to reading about the interactions between those two girls. Josh, Priscilla’s brother, is a great role model. The whole family has such a tight bond, looking out for each other, and keeping each other safe. It was refreshing to see such dynamics in the book. Oh, and I love Kyle!! What a cutie!
Priscilla the Great is an exciting read and is full of fire!!
I give Priscilla the Great 5 STACKS!
Love STACKGirl Shannan who is waiting for the next book in the series
From Amazon: With genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.
The cover is cute but I wish the hand was a little girlier (I know she is a tomboy) and a more realistic fire on the finger. But forget the cover, the story is SO MUCH FUN! Oh yes, I used capital letters.
Nelson must have known that I love the movies Spy Kids and Sky High! I mean I have seen Sky High at least fifty times! Errrrr….with my kids, of course. Like those movies, Priscilla the Great just made me happy, happy, happy!! I am keeping this book for my kids to read when they get to be teens. Try a little Karate Kid plus young romance plus family fun.
This is an awesome middle grade book with some talk of kissing boys – typical behavior – and mentions of sex – more typical thoughts of teens, but wasn’t sure how parents would think of it even though it is very minor. It is definitely a read for the whole family once the kids are teens.
What makes me so happy? Priss is amazing and sarcastic! She has a fantastic best friend, Tai, who is smart and dedicated. I looked forward to reading about the interactions between those two girls. Josh, Priscilla’s brother, is a great role model. The whole family has such a tight bond, looking out for each other, and keeping each other safe. It was refreshing to see such dynamics in the book. Oh, and I love Kyle!! What a cutie!
Priscilla the Great is an exciting read and is full of fire!!
I give Priscilla the Great 5 STACKS!
Love STACKGirl Shannan who is waiting for the next book in the series
March 24, 2011
Priscilla the Great is a fabulously, fun, entertaining read. Priscilla herself is a snarky, engaging character, whom I really enjoyed getting to know.
Twelve year old Priscilla has grown up thinking her family was some what normal. With a mother who's often away on business, a dad who looks more like a WWE wrestler, a sixteen year hold heart throb bother and two five- year old trouble making twin bothers, she never would have thought her family is far from normal! With out giving away some of the plot, it's not until Priscilla's powers or secret abilities are known does she realize that she and her family are far from normal!
What I enjoyed the most about the book is the interaction between Priscilla and her family and friends. Each of them are great characters and add something unique to the story. I loved her description of her dad, as he's someone I wouldn't want to meet in a dark ally, but yet he has this fierce love and devotion as a family man. When you read about him, you'll understand what I mean. I adored her mom!! I was pleasantly surprised with Priscilla and Kyle's refreshing relationship. It was great watching them go from always competing against each other to something more. I think I was just as shocked by the change as Priscilla since they have grown up together.
Priscilla the Great is action packed, has some great plot twists, and is an engaging read. The best way for me to describe it is it's a sci-fi meets contemporary, with a little bit of coming of age and dashed with a little bit of romance. Sybil was written a fabulous 1st book in what I think will be a great middle grade series. I would highly recommend picking up this book. I think it's going to be appealing to both boy and girls, as it offers a little bit of everything. Middle grade wise, I give it 5 stars.
Twelve year old Priscilla has grown up thinking her family was some what normal. With a mother who's often away on business, a dad who looks more like a WWE wrestler, a sixteen year hold heart throb bother and two five- year old trouble making twin bothers, she never would have thought her family is far from normal! With out giving away some of the plot, it's not until Priscilla's powers or secret abilities are known does she realize that she and her family are far from normal!
What I enjoyed the most about the book is the interaction between Priscilla and her family and friends. Each of them are great characters and add something unique to the story. I loved her description of her dad, as he's someone I wouldn't want to meet in a dark ally, but yet he has this fierce love and devotion as a family man. When you read about him, you'll understand what I mean. I adored her mom!! I was pleasantly surprised with Priscilla and Kyle's refreshing relationship. It was great watching them go from always competing against each other to something more. I think I was just as shocked by the change as Priscilla since they have grown up together.
Priscilla the Great is action packed, has some great plot twists, and is an engaging read. The best way for me to describe it is it's a sci-fi meets contemporary, with a little bit of coming of age and dashed with a little bit of romance. Sybil was written a fabulous 1st book in what I think will be a great middle grade series. I would highly recommend picking up this book. I think it's going to be appealing to both boy and girls, as it offers a little bit of everything. Middle grade wise, I give it 5 stars.
January 25, 2011
You would think that shooting fire out of your finger would be pretty awesome for a kid. Priscilla thought so too until she realized she put everyone around her at risk. Priscilla tries to keep her secret kept to herself, but soon, she is lighting things on fire all around her. Even hugging or kissing a boy has it's dangers. (don't ask her about the "sex video") When Priscilla's parents learn of her strange ability, years of secrets and lies begin to crumble. Her mother has always been an absent parent, but to Priscilla's surprise, there are very good reasons why her mom missed her birthday celebrations. It seems that Priscilla isn't the only one with special abilities. When her family is kidnapped, Priscilla must fight a government operation to genetically produce killers. Even though she has special skills, can Priscilla fight off armed guards with their own abilities?
This book was quite the page turner. Even though the book is relatively long for a middle grade book, each page is dived up into several paragraphs making it a breeze to read. Priscilla is funny, witty, sarcastic, and full of charm. She tells us about farting on her brother and even a game called Snot Wars. After she learns of her powers, she begins to think that she may be an alien. There are several scenes of inner dialogue of her hashing out the odds that she is from space. Very funny! Her humor and inner worries about how she came into her powers are what make this book special.
There is a lot of mystery and adventure (even a bit of violence) to keep the story interesting for a male reader. The end is very climatic and exciting, and we are easily set up for book two. Overall, very cute and a great pick for a middle grader!
4 Stars
This book was quite the page turner. Even though the book is relatively long for a middle grade book, each page is dived up into several paragraphs making it a breeze to read. Priscilla is funny, witty, sarcastic, and full of charm. She tells us about farting on her brother and even a game called Snot Wars. After she learns of her powers, she begins to think that she may be an alien. There are several scenes of inner dialogue of her hashing out the odds that she is from space. Very funny! Her humor and inner worries about how she came into her powers are what make this book special.
There is a lot of mystery and adventure (even a bit of violence) to keep the story interesting for a male reader. The end is very climatic and exciting, and we are easily set up for book two. Overall, very cute and a great pick for a middle grader!
4 Stars
May 14, 2011
Seventh-grader Priscilla Sumner has to deal with more than just the typical trials of middle school. In addition to pimples and bullies, she needs to use her extraordinary gifts to defeat genetically enhanced assassins who want to kill her and her family, and destroy the evil Selliwood Institute. But that's not all - she must also work out the secrets her entire family has been hiding from her, and what she finds out changes everything.
One of the best aspects of PRISCILLA THE GREAT were the characters. The book had a rich, colorful cast, each person with his or her own perfectly developed personality. My favorite character was Priscilla, because she was such a spunky, kick-butt protagonist that I had a blast reading about her. Her voice was fresh and pulled me right in from the very start, with her hilarious wise-cracks and sarcastic tendencies, but also with how very real and feeling she could be.
Though I found this book to be fun, the plot definitely had a fast pace and there was a lot of action. Behind the witty narration, the story was suspenseful and kept me flipping pages (or rather, clicking through them on my Kindle!) to see what would happen next. Sometimes cliffhanger endings really annoy me, but I felt like it worked well with this book, and I definitely now want to read the next book.
This is an awesome and fun middle grade read that anyone can enjoy! From the richly developed characters to the epic action, PRISCILLA THE GREAT holds your attention from beginning to end. Even without the cliffhanger ending, I would still want to read the next book. These books felt a bit on the young side to me, but I think people of all ages could have fun reading this. I recommend it to anyone who wants a funny yet action-packed read!
One of the best aspects of PRISCILLA THE GREAT were the characters. The book had a rich, colorful cast, each person with his or her own perfectly developed personality. My favorite character was Priscilla, because she was such a spunky, kick-butt protagonist that I had a blast reading about her. Her voice was fresh and pulled me right in from the very start, with her hilarious wise-cracks and sarcastic tendencies, but also with how very real and feeling she could be.
Though I found this book to be fun, the plot definitely had a fast pace and there was a lot of action. Behind the witty narration, the story was suspenseful and kept me flipping pages (or rather, clicking through them on my Kindle!) to see what would happen next. Sometimes cliffhanger endings really annoy me, but I felt like it worked well with this book, and I definitely now want to read the next book.
This is an awesome and fun middle grade read that anyone can enjoy! From the richly developed characters to the epic action, PRISCILLA THE GREAT holds your attention from beginning to end. Even without the cliffhanger ending, I would still want to read the next book. These books felt a bit on the young side to me, but I think people of all ages could have fun reading this. I recommend it to anyone who wants a funny yet action-packed read!
November 2, 2011
4.5 Stars
How much do I love this book? The story follows Priscilla, who unexpectedly discovers she is able to shoot fire from her fingertips. Now, if only she could control this power - and the other gifts she seems to be developing - because she's going to need them...
Priscilla is just completely ace! I adored her voice - she is so witty, snarky and fun I couldn’t help but like her (loved the Prissy fits!). Her friend Tai is the best sidekick – beyond intelligent but relatable too. And Kyle is so adorable and cute! I really love his relationship with Priscilla. Her family are great as well. Her (Christina Aguilera loving) brother Josh is really sweet and I loved how their relationship develops, her younger twin brothers are completely mad (and ewww I can live without the snot wars!) and her father is totally overprotective but in a good, fun way. But I think I loved her mum the best! She kind of reminded me of a grown up Max from the TV series Dark Angel!
The book is really well paced and exciting throughout. I finished it really quickly and could easily have read another 200 pages! I loved all the science and background information of the Selliwood Institute and why Priscilla can do what she can. It's believable without being too complicated (for me at least). I also really liked the strong sense of family portrayed in the book. It was really nice seeing the family work together, especially once everything is out in the open.
Aimed at middle grade (tweens) this can easily be enjoyed by older readers. I loved it and am (well) out of my teens. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest in the series when they are released, especially since this one ends with a cliffhanger! A good one though! Great fun and highly recommended!
How much do I love this book? The story follows Priscilla, who unexpectedly discovers she is able to shoot fire from her fingertips. Now, if only she could control this power - and the other gifts she seems to be developing - because she's going to need them...
Priscilla is just completely ace! I adored her voice - she is so witty, snarky and fun I couldn’t help but like her (loved the Prissy fits!). Her friend Tai is the best sidekick – beyond intelligent but relatable too. And Kyle is so adorable and cute! I really love his relationship with Priscilla. Her family are great as well. Her (Christina Aguilera loving) brother Josh is really sweet and I loved how their relationship develops, her younger twin brothers are completely mad (and ewww I can live without the snot wars!) and her father is totally overprotective but in a good, fun way. But I think I loved her mum the best! She kind of reminded me of a grown up Max from the TV series Dark Angel!
The book is really well paced and exciting throughout. I finished it really quickly and could easily have read another 200 pages! I loved all the science and background information of the Selliwood Institute and why Priscilla can do what she can. It's believable without being too complicated (for me at least). I also really liked the strong sense of family portrayed in the book. It was really nice seeing the family work together, especially once everything is out in the open.
Aimed at middle grade (tweens) this can easily be enjoyed by older readers. I loved it and am (well) out of my teens. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest in the series when they are released, especially since this one ends with a cliffhanger! A good one though! Great fun and highly recommended!
May 8, 2011
original post here
This was a fun book to read! I honestly enjoyed the the blossoming of Priscilla from a 12-year old girl to a 12-year old super girl.
Priscilla is like most girl her age would be - in school, having crushes, and setting things on fire? It all started when she can suddenly shoot fires from her fingers, and with the help of her best friend, Tia, she tries to uncover what is really happening to her. Because as far as they know, spontaneous human combustion is not like anything that is happening to her. Then certain events led her to the truth of who or what she really is and have to use her new found abilities to protect her family from a secret organization breeding humans as assassins.
I enjoyed reading the adventure of Priscilla - trying to comprehend what is happening to her, the truths about who she is and her family, and still trying to hold on to her teenage self, which at times helped her in her missions. The characters in her family is also noteworthy as well. She's close to her dad, she has issues with her mom, her older brother might be a jock but is pretty cool for a brother, and her twin brothers are unbelievably mischievous! The latter really adds to the humor that is abundant in this book. I was reminded of the stories of Alex Rider and Kim Possible. Secret identities, kicking some arse, and still trying to deal with teenage life.
Highly recommended for young readers who are after a light-reading but packed with action, humor, friendship, and a little romance. I'm still cracking at the uses of Christina Aguilera songs in the story whenever I remember them. Ha! And the end will have you waiting for Priscilla's next adventure!
This was a fun book to read! I honestly enjoyed the the blossoming of Priscilla from a 12-year old girl to a 12-year old super girl.
Priscilla is like most girl her age would be - in school, having crushes, and setting things on fire? It all started when she can suddenly shoot fires from her fingers, and with the help of her best friend, Tia, she tries to uncover what is really happening to her. Because as far as they know, spontaneous human combustion is not like anything that is happening to her. Then certain events led her to the truth of who or what she really is and have to use her new found abilities to protect her family from a secret organization breeding humans as assassins.
I enjoyed reading the adventure of Priscilla - trying to comprehend what is happening to her, the truths about who she is and her family, and still trying to hold on to her teenage self, which at times helped her in her missions. The characters in her family is also noteworthy as well. She's close to her dad, she has issues with her mom, her older brother might be a jock but is pretty cool for a brother, and her twin brothers are unbelievably mischievous! The latter really adds to the humor that is abundant in this book. I was reminded of the stories of Alex Rider and Kim Possible. Secret identities, kicking some arse, and still trying to deal with teenage life.
Highly recommended for young readers who are after a light-reading but packed with action, humor, friendship, and a little romance. I'm still cracking at the uses of Christina Aguilera songs in the story whenever I remember them. Ha! And the end will have you waiting for Priscilla's next adventure!
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