Zinnia's Zaniness

Sisters Eight #8

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The penultimate episode in the Sisters Eight saga! Finally! Zinnia’s turn has arrived. The poor girl has been waiting for her time in the spotlight quite long enough. Really, it would be cruel to make her wait any longer. What will her power and her gift be? Will either of them prove to be as much of a doozy as she has been hoping for? There’s only one way to find out: Let her story begin. It’s finally Zinnia Time!

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Animals

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).

Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.

Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.

In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.

Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.

In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.

Lauren’s favorite color is green.

Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.

Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong.

Reviews

[Dyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zinnia is my favorite Eight apart from Rebecca, because she can talk to cats (and I love cats).
I cant say much about the book, because at this point, the readers have already known the routines: power and gifts, a little conflict there, a little evil here, silly problem-solving and conclusion...

but at the end of this book...

Whoaaahh.. another cliffhanger! This book successfully makes me curious :|
*going straight to the next book then!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have known that the story wouldn't have ended with this installment of the series; I guess I just assumed that since there were eight sisters, there would be eight books-- it looks like the family of authors will need to write some more soon! Good cliffhanger ending. (=

(Also, this is just a guess: Andrew, David, George, Jack, Mark, Patrick, Robert, and Zane. But who knows? I hope we'll get to find out!)

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in the Sisters Eight series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Greg Logsted, and Jackie Logsted. Our oldest daughter discovered the first book of this series recently at our local library and fell in love immediately. We've borrowed the next books in the series and she's read them quickly in succession. I enjoy reading the stories after she does and discussing the plots with her.

I found the story to be strange, but interesting and I can see that this series would appeal to a young elementary school-age child just getting into reading longer chapter books. The story occasionally interacts with the reader, usually foreshadowing dramatic parts that will follow later in the book.

I don't know if I'm tiring of this series, but in the beginning, I found the tales whimsical and charming. Now, I am finding them to be whiny, spiteful and irritating. I will admit that the book has an intriguing plot and our oldest is so excited to read the last book.

The stories have a pattern that is both predictable (it's even mentioned in the story) and reassuring. In each book, one of the eight girls discovers her power and gets a gift within the span of a month - the series order goes from the oldest to the youngest octuplet. We are just about finished with the series; the last book hasn't been published yet, so we are just waiting to get our copy from the library.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book eight and the penultimate book of the series was another fine entry with great humour throughout. The "power" was no surprise and was clearly telegraphed through the series, but now for the final book of the series. I had originally thought there were only eight books in the series, and the library I got these from only has the first eight. Another library has book none, so will get that shortly to complete the series.

[Lady Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm beginning to think that I just don't really care for the sisters' summer adventures. While definitely an improvement over the previous volume, this was still nowhere near as good as the majority of the previous offerings. I am looking forward to meeting the 'other eights' in (what I hope) is the final volume of the series, but I am definitely ready for the series to end.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've now read all 8 of the Sisters Eight series w/ the kids. It's a very fun series, but this last one left me wondering if our book was missing a page. It ends abruptly and while I can't find information on more future titles, I expect the rest of the story is coming. All eights now have their powers and their gifts, the mystery remains to be solved.

[Susu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the other eights are boys since George was almost the height and same hair style of Georgia (Andrew,David,George,jack,mark,Peter ,Ronald ,zain). I thought of it when I was reading book 8

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. I think the girls and I had both finished it within 24 hours of present-opening. They both love the series too. Yay for Zinnia, coming into her own. I can barely wait for the last book, to find out what is going on!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

ZINNA you are my favorite!!!
( Sorry Durinda )

[Marta Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't remember library books ever having had such heavy usage at our house! In three weeks, I've read the series once, but C is halfway through a third round already!

[Zafirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this series. In fact it was this series that first made her interested in reading.

[Ann]

Grace loves this series!

[Kaytee · Rating 5 out of 5]

finally zinnia has got her power and her really really special gift when she got her power and gift she was so excited. I thought her power was cool I thought this book was good

[Janae · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5116...#

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fun and exciting story; however it was quite exasperating how long the rest of the girls persisted in disbelieving zinnia.

[Cosette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m just hanging in there for the end.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this one was kinda good. Plus it had the nostalgia factor. Kinda excited to read the last one.

[Jackie Chevalier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book probably the most! I think we finally get to learn a little bit more about the note leaver and a little bit about what happened to their parents! I also love Zinnias power and love that this book felt like a vacation since they were on vacation. I always trusted that Zinnia could talk to the cats but the fact that she can talk to all animals is super cool. I also love the cover of this book and overall everything about this book has made me love it. It seemed very quick but I’m glad they got to enjoy their birthdays and I’m excited to know how this series ends. There wasn’t really a main problem to this book but I think in a series that’s okay. Lastly, my guess is that the note leaver/narrator is one of the girls and one of them know a bit more than they let on, I think it is either Rebecca or Annie but I’m not positive. I hope we get to learn that in the last one.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter is 6.5; she discovered these books at our local library and fell in love. I found myself being drawn in and wanting to know the story as well so even though she usually reads to herself I begged her to let me read her this one! It's a very cute story. There are a few things I don't really care for, like how the sisters are sometimes mean to each other, even calling each other "idiot," but I suppose that's a more realistic relationship alongside the fantasy and magical parts of the story. They also talk about axe murderers, contemplate the idea that their parents may be dead, and discuss the possibility of a boy having a crush on one of the girls (is that typical for 8 year olds now?). I thought this would be the last book in the series but I guess not! Hoping to read the next book in the series and find out what happens because it is intriguing and I want to know.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good mystery which was well-written, for kids. I think the series has become funnier as it has progressed!

[Hambu · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was a very good mystery when they found daddy .

[Randy Garry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A kids book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sisters Eight go to the beach. They have fun. They are idiots for not realizing what Zinnia’s power is. Zinnia has been talking to her cat for the entire series now, and the only thing that happened in this book is that the range of her power and the variety of animals she talks to increases. Zinnia’s sisters are jerks for not listening to her. At the end of this book, the Eights have their birthday, complete bombshells are dropped, and the series becomes epic.

I don’t have a favorite sister, but I love Zinnia. She loves animals and she also loves gifts, meaning that she doesn’t just care about others and also has a decent amount of self-respect. Her hair is drawn really long. So long that she might trip on it. She is also the shortest of the sisters. Zinnia becomes a pescatarian, which means the only meat she eats is fish. All of the sisters have cats, but Zinnia’s relationship with her cat is the best. Throughout the series, I was upset how none of Zinnia’s sisters respect her, even though she might have the greatest emotional intelligence of all of them.

Zinnia’s awards:
The cutest.
Most caring.
Most likely to be on Tumblr.
Will probably become a veterinarian in adulthood.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The children I read this to, could not believe this was a complete book. They want to see a printed book (vs. my Kindle version) to be sure that I'm not missing a chapter. What a disappointment that all the could-be tie-ins were not crafted into the conclusion. There really isn't a conclusion here. I'd describe this book (#8 of 8) as a backwards fireworks show. It's a dud and not the sparkly finale we waited for.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fianlly sister #8 gets her day. I was glad to see that Zinnia's gift of communicating with animals was not an imagined one and that finally her sisters had to take her more seriously. I was disappointed, but not surprised, but the number of loose ends here. I guess I'll have to read on....

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why is this series not over yet? Very frustrated. Still annoyed with sibling bickering but will continue thru the end.

[Staci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost to the end of the series with this one. The girls love it, and I think they are OK.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zinnia can talk to animals.