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Completely Cassidy #1
Accidental Genius
With my embarrassing Dad, pregnant Mum, loser brother and knicker-chewing dog, I'm practically invisible in my family. So even though starting Year Seven is totally nail-biting, I'm *hoping* this is my time to shine. Because guess what?
We had to take this test at school, and I am officially Gifted and Talented. It's a bit weird as I picked my answers at random, but the school wouldn't make a mistake about my genius... would they?
We had to take this test at school, and I am officially Gifted and Talented. It's a bit weird as I picked my answers at random, but the school wouldn't make a mistake about my genius... would they?
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
9 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Tamsyn Murray
30 books128 followersHertfordshire-based writer of books. Lives with one husband, one daughter, one son, one mad chocolate labrador, one aged tabby cat, five gorgeous bunnies. Likes animals (no, really?), Marmite and messing about on stage. Dislikes spiders, celery and arrogant people.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 14, 2015
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After a long run with only reading Young Adult novels, reading Completely Cassidy: Accidental Genius was a breath of fresh air. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I read a fun Middle Grade book! This one reminded how enjoyable and how easy to read light-hearted tween stories are and made me want to read more hilarious young protagonists like Cassidy Bond.
As Cassidy goes into secondary school, she holds on to the hope of a great school year and the possibility of being noticed for the gifted and talented girl that she is, even though she doesn’t know what her particular talent is yet. That is until she scores the highest mark for the Cognitive Abilities Test and discovers her accidental genius. While her annoying older brother, Liam, and his band as well as Cassidy’s BFFs, Molly and Shenice, get ready for the St. Jude’s Has Got Talent show, Cassidy is preoccupied in proving her intellect as a quiz team member, all while catching the attention of the coolest boy in Year Seven, dealing with her mom’s pregnancy and her dog’s crazy antics.
My favourite thing about this book is how Tamsyn Murray perfectly captured the over-exaggerated, dramatically comical voice of a quirky tween girl through Cassidy. I liked her narration right away despite initially thinking I might have trouble relating to the really young disposition. I found her quips funny and I enjoyed her strong personality. I couldn’t help but think that if I were still eleven years old, I would have totally been friends with this girl!
Speaking of, I liked the focus on friendship as Cassidy goes through a squabble with one of her best friends. The plot revolves around the slightly overwhelming changes that Cassidy experiences (like starting Year Seven and expecting new family members) so some estrangement between friends fitted right in. Despite everything though, Cassidy and her BFFs still supported each other. Huge YAY for girl friends who have your back through the tragically embarrassing moments of being a tween, hair disasters and knicker horrors included.
Some extra details I also really liked in the book were the cute illustrations in every chapter. I’d imagined it’ll be quite attractive to young readers. Also, there were some laugh out loud letters, diary entries, lists included in the story which I think were really great companions to the story.
On the whole, Completely Cassidy: Accidental Genius was very adorable. It’s a great Middle Grade book for kids and also a fun quick leisure read for those who remain kids at heart.
After a long run with only reading Young Adult novels, reading Completely Cassidy: Accidental Genius was a breath of fresh air. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I read a fun Middle Grade book! This one reminded how enjoyable and how easy to read light-hearted tween stories are and made me want to read more hilarious young protagonists like Cassidy Bond.
As Cassidy goes into secondary school, she holds on to the hope of a great school year and the possibility of being noticed for the gifted and talented girl that she is, even though she doesn’t know what her particular talent is yet. That is until she scores the highest mark for the Cognitive Abilities Test and discovers her accidental genius. While her annoying older brother, Liam, and his band as well as Cassidy’s BFFs, Molly and Shenice, get ready for the St. Jude’s Has Got Talent show, Cassidy is preoccupied in proving her intellect as a quiz team member, all while catching the attention of the coolest boy in Year Seven, dealing with her mom’s pregnancy and her dog’s crazy antics.
My favourite thing about this book is how Tamsyn Murray perfectly captured the over-exaggerated, dramatically comical voice of a quirky tween girl through Cassidy. I liked her narration right away despite initially thinking I might have trouble relating to the really young disposition. I found her quips funny and I enjoyed her strong personality. I couldn’t help but think that if I were still eleven years old, I would have totally been friends with this girl!
Speaking of, I liked the focus on friendship as Cassidy goes through a squabble with one of her best friends. The plot revolves around the slightly overwhelming changes that Cassidy experiences (like starting Year Seven and expecting new family members) so some estrangement between friends fitted right in. Despite everything though, Cassidy and her BFFs still supported each other. Huge YAY for girl friends who have your back through the tragically embarrassing moments of being a tween, hair disasters and knicker horrors included.
Some extra details I also really liked in the book were the cute illustrations in every chapter. I’d imagined it’ll be quite attractive to young readers. Also, there were some laugh out loud letters, diary entries, lists included in the story which I think were really great companions to the story.
On the whole, Completely Cassidy: Accidental Genius was very adorable. It’s a great Middle Grade book for kids and also a fun quick leisure read for those who remain kids at heart.
February 8, 2021
ربما هو كتاب لطيف بالنسبة لي لكن لي تحفظات لأنه موجه لليافعين
أحببت إسقاطات هاري بوتر الموجودة في الكتاب
أحببت إسقاطات هاري بوتر الموجودة في الكتاب
March 24, 2015
I read this book after my 12 year old, who described this book as completely hilarious,and urged me to put it on top of my to be read list. He was correct, it is completely hilarious (though I did get a bit teary eyed at the end), and I would highly recommend it to everyone (especially anyone who has forgotten what it's like to be a tween).
August 9, 2016
Tämähän oli oikein toimiva aloitus. Ei ihmeitä mutta toimii.
May 25, 2020
I'm trying to not feel stupid while reading this book at the age of 22, but I'm bored and this seemed like a book that'd cheer me up, and even though it's a cringefest, I couldn't help but reminisce the time I read the Princess Diaries or the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Cassidy is absolutely relatable, even at my age, because well, I still don't know what my talents are and everyone around me seem to have things figured out (I know it's not true haha). It's nice to be able to read about her petty frustration regarding her family and middle school life and laugh at the memories of my own embarrassing moments in front of my crush. I'll definitely go into the rest of the books of this series everytime I feel low again. But for now, this one was enough.
April 12, 2015
I absolutely flew through this book, it is most definitely a must-read for anyone who has children starting secondary school in the next couple of years or any child who is in that position. This book is full of humour but also real messages about friendship, growing up and self confidence. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment!
I read this book with some children at school who are about to begin that journey to secondary school and they thought this book was hilarious as well as lots of good fun, It also provoked some interesting discussions about friendships and not giving in to what other people think are cool. For the adults out there, it also led to some interesting discussion about parents and their relationships with children surrounding mutual respect and responsibility.
I really loved Cassidy as a character. She reminded me of a cross between Harriet Manners (Geek Girl) and Darcy Burdock and that was the kind of feel that this book had to it as well! She is a little bit overwhelmed by secondary school, the routines and the people and she's a little bit unsure of changes that are going on at home as well so she's really at a total crossroads in her life. She doesn't let that get her down though and attacks everything that she does completely head on-i loved her for this! her older brother and her parents provide comedy sidekicks to her sometimes as well.
Cassidy's friends are typical eleven year-old girls and |I can't wait to catch up with them in the new book as well. There are some real cringe-worthy moments in the book where you think to yourself, how did you actually get yourself into these scrapes? Some of these involve a very cute chocolate lab named Rolo of course! Overall this was just a really fun read and a real refreshing change from novels set in other countries with children starting out in the next stage of their education. In case I haven't said it enough already-this was great but now I can't wait for the next one book in this series!
I read this book with some children at school who are about to begin that journey to secondary school and they thought this book was hilarious as well as lots of good fun, It also provoked some interesting discussions about friendships and not giving in to what other people think are cool. For the adults out there, it also led to some interesting discussion about parents and their relationships with children surrounding mutual respect and responsibility.
I really loved Cassidy as a character. She reminded me of a cross between Harriet Manners (Geek Girl) and Darcy Burdock and that was the kind of feel that this book had to it as well! She is a little bit overwhelmed by secondary school, the routines and the people and she's a little bit unsure of changes that are going on at home as well so she's really at a total crossroads in her life. She doesn't let that get her down though and attacks everything that she does completely head on-i loved her for this! her older brother and her parents provide comedy sidekicks to her sometimes as well.
Cassidy's friends are typical eleven year-old girls and |I can't wait to catch up with them in the new book as well. There are some real cringe-worthy moments in the book where you think to yourself, how did you actually get yourself into these scrapes? Some of these involve a very cute chocolate lab named Rolo of course! Overall this was just a really fun read and a real refreshing change from novels set in other countries with children starting out in the next stage of their education. In case I haven't said it enough already-this was great but now I can't wait for the next one book in this series!
July 21, 2016
Rakas päiväkirjani-tyyppistä sarjakamaa, joka toimii vähän pienemmällä väkisintehdyllä huumorilla ja suuremmalla ystävyyden ja muiden tärkeiden asioiden pohdinnalla.
Puolikas tähti päälle.
Puolikas tähti päälle.
March 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely as cringy and funny as the cover makes it out to be. I mostly read it while looking for more tweener’s books for my students, but I think anyone that needs a laugh should read it. It was fun and Cassie is hilarious. It made me reminisce about being in 7th grade and all the trouble I got into 😂
November 29, 2017
THIS IS A AWESOME BOOK!!!! Super duper funny for readers who love comedy!
January 23, 2020
Children starting secondary school will appreciate this book. A good story line and addresses some emotional issues
January 24, 2020
This book is very funny! I love it so much! (Annalena)
June 29, 2020
لطيف وخفيف
August 19, 2020
Funny, time pass read :)
Read
February 15, 2021Love it
June 6, 2022
It was ok I guess.
Read
March 6, 2023I love this book! Its quite quirky and fun in its own way, and it’s a perfect book for 9-3 year olds! It didnt take me too long to read it and I enjoyed every minute of it!
June 22, 2022
It was good
April 27, 2015
Originally posted at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
I was in the middle of reading All the Rage by Courtney Summers and I had to put it down and switch to something a little lighter, a little sweeter and a whole lot more fun – Accidental Genius hit the spot!
I devoured this in one sitting. I zoomed through it in just over an hour and yet I still came out the other side feeling like I had really got to know Cassie and her friends and family. They’re all a little mad but each character is distinct and lovable and I loved the interactions between them and Cassie, particularly her family. Those with siblings know exactly how Cassie feels about her older brother, Liam – contempt mostly. The bicker and tease each other relentlessly, but when it counts, they’ve got your back. Briefly. It was the same with her BFFs, Molly and Shenice. Their friendship was genuine and warm and full of the natural ups and downs that occur when one of them goes a little crazy over your aforementioned big brother…
With pain in the butt brothers, falling out with friends and the imminent arrival of twin siblings, you wouldn’t think Cassie had any more room to worry about anything else, but she’s also just about to start secondary school. In a surprising turn of events, Cassidy becomes a Gifted & Talented girl and joins the school quiz team and, bonus, the coolest, cutest guy in Year Seven is on the team too! I’m super jealous of how cool Cassie’s secondary school is. We never had anything like a quiz team or a talent contest, the only thing we had was a choir – there weren’t even proper sports teams!
Accidental Genius is sweet, fun and completely adorable and I can’t wait to read more of the Completely Cassidy series!
I was in the middle of reading All the Rage by Courtney Summers and I had to put it down and switch to something a little lighter, a little sweeter and a whole lot more fun – Accidental Genius hit the spot!
I devoured this in one sitting. I zoomed through it in just over an hour and yet I still came out the other side feeling like I had really got to know Cassie and her friends and family. They’re all a little mad but each character is distinct and lovable and I loved the interactions between them and Cassie, particularly her family. Those with siblings know exactly how Cassie feels about her older brother, Liam – contempt mostly. The bicker and tease each other relentlessly, but when it counts, they’ve got your back. Briefly. It was the same with her BFFs, Molly and Shenice. Their friendship was genuine and warm and full of the natural ups and downs that occur when one of them goes a little crazy over your aforementioned big brother…
With pain in the butt brothers, falling out with friends and the imminent arrival of twin siblings, you wouldn’t think Cassie had any more room to worry about anything else, but she’s also just about to start secondary school. In a surprising turn of events, Cassidy becomes a Gifted & Talented girl and joins the school quiz team and, bonus, the coolest, cutest guy in Year Seven is on the team too! I’m super jealous of how cool Cassie’s secondary school is. We never had anything like a quiz team or a talent contest, the only thing we had was a choir – there weren’t even proper sports teams!
Accidental Genius is sweet, fun and completely adorable and I can’t wait to read more of the Completely Cassidy series!
January 13, 2016
Den här tog tid. Jag är uppenbarligen fel målgrupp för den här berättelsen.
Boken beskriver en 11-årings liv både privat och i skolan. Bråk med sin storebror, en höggravid mamma som väntar tvillingar, bråk mellan bästisar, en stor talangtävling och dessutom en stor frågesportstävling. Särskilt frågesporten spelar stor roll i berättelsen eftersom Cassidy, mot all förmodan, har fått ett skyhögt resultat på ett viktigt prov och därmed är som klippt och skuren för skolans frågesportslag. Givetvis är även skolans snyggaste kille med i laget...
Mitt problem med boken är att jag inte får rätt på åldern hos barnen. Blir verkligen 11-åringar kära i 14-åringar? Och visslar verkligen 15-åringar efter en 11-åring när hon har fått en ny frisyr? För egen del känns det... konstigt? Å ena sidan bryr hon sig märkvärdigt mycket om vad de äldre eleverna tycker och tänker, å andra sidan anser hon fortfarande att det var pinsamt att ha kissat på sig när hon var 5 år gammal.
Men förutom de detaljerna:
Lite romantik, kompisrelationer, mycket pinsamheter och en hel del humor. Jag kan lätt tänka mig att den här boken går hem hos barn och unga som vill ha något som påminner om Nikkis dagbok
Boken beskriver en 11-årings liv både privat och i skolan. Bråk med sin storebror, en höggravid mamma som väntar tvillingar, bråk mellan bästisar, en stor talangtävling och dessutom en stor frågesportstävling. Särskilt frågesporten spelar stor roll i berättelsen eftersom Cassidy, mot all förmodan, har fått ett skyhögt resultat på ett viktigt prov och därmed är som klippt och skuren för skolans frågesportslag. Givetvis är även skolans snyggaste kille med i laget...
Mitt problem med boken är att jag inte får rätt på åldern hos barnen. Blir verkligen 11-åringar kära i 14-åringar? Och visslar verkligen 15-åringar efter en 11-åring när hon har fått en ny frisyr? För egen del känns det... konstigt? Å ena sidan bryr hon sig märkvärdigt mycket om vad de äldre eleverna tycker och tänker, å andra sidan anser hon fortfarande att det var pinsamt att ha kissat på sig när hon var 5 år gammal.
Men förutom de detaljerna:
Lite romantik, kompisrelationer, mycket pinsamheter och en hel del humor. Jag kan lätt tänka mig att den här boken går hem hos barn och unga som vill ha något som påminner om Nikkis dagbok
October 19, 2025
When I first picked this book up from the library shelves, I wasn't totally sure if I was going to enjoy it.
I was worried it was going to a typical "early teen, awkward girl, high-school novel" ("Dork Diaries" springs to mind and I've never even read those books.....not that I have any intention of doing so.
Well I read an extract online once, just so I could prove how much I disliked the book series)
I've only read this book once and turns out, I actually really enjoyed it! It's a lot better than I expected.
Main character (Cassidy) is a realistic, relatable character and the story is original and fun. There are lots of funny moments in this book: I kept smiling to myself as I read.
For a book set in a school, it's not unrealistic and fake. It feels real and even I enjoyed it (and I'm college age!) So I definitely feel younger teen girls will enjoy this cool book too. I will definitely read the second and third books too.
I was worried it was going to a typical "early teen, awkward girl, high-school novel" ("Dork Diaries" springs to mind and I've never even read those books.....not that I have any intention of doing so.
Well I read an extract online once, just so I could prove how much I disliked the book series)
I've only read this book once and turns out, I actually really enjoyed it! It's a lot better than I expected.
Main character (Cassidy) is a realistic, relatable character and the story is original and fun. There are lots of funny moments in this book: I kept smiling to myself as I read.
For a book set in a school, it's not unrealistic and fake. It feels real and even I enjoyed it (and I'm college age!) So I definitely feel younger teen girls will enjoy this cool book too. I will definitely read the second and third books too.
July 15, 2016
Luin Suomeksi Neronleimaus (Kaikkien aikojen Camilla). Ihan kiva koululaiskirja, ehkä nuorille yläkoululaisille tai kuutosille. Camilla (en tiedä miksei Cassidy?) kärsii aika hurjasta perheestä, äiti on raskaana ja isoveli hurjan ärsyttävä. Kolmen kaveruksen joukko rakoilee kun yksi ystävä jostain syystä alkaakin ihailla isoveljeä, ja se on ärsyttävää. Camilla pääsee hieman yllättäen yhteen joukkueeseen, jossa on myös yksi aika ihku tyyppi ja samalla koulussa järkätään talenttiesitystä. Kaikki tämä saa elämän kuohumaan. Muuten kiva kirja, mutta isoja kirjoaimia ja sanoja käytettiin hieman ärsyttävästi. Ihan vinkattava.
August 10, 2016
Oikein sympaattinen ja positiivinen esiteiniangstikirja. Eihän se elämä juuri koskaan niin kamalaa ole kuin etukäteen pelkää. Jokainen mokailee ja töppäilee joskus ja toisaalta jokainen on hyvä ja tarpeellinen jossain. Hiukan romantiikkaa ja paljon perhe ja kaverikiemuroita
Vaikka päähenkilö aloittelee yläkoulua, kirja käy mainisosti teinimeiningistä kiinnostuneelle kolmosellekkin. Varsinaista kohderyhmää nelosvitoskutoset.
Vaikka päähenkilö aloittelee yläkoulua, kirja käy mainisosti teinimeiningistä kiinnostuneelle kolmosellekkin. Varsinaista kohderyhmää nelosvitoskutoset.
October 12, 2016
it was the first book I read in the series, and I was gobsmacked. I was introduced to the book by british council library , where when they held the competition, 2016 reading challenge, I thought it might be good choice and after I read it, I was hooked!
Read
April 3, 2015So much fun! Cassidy's voice is great—she's instantly likeable and I laughed out loud. And I love the message that everyone, no matter how normal, is special. A really enjoyable read for kids.
April 9, 2015
brilliant book for tweenies. took me right back to those cringey school days when you feel like you don't fit in and everything can cause embarrassment. My 10yr old daughter is reading it now.
April 9, 2016
Luv that book
May 30, 2016
Uusi sarja Neropatin, Nolo elämäni jne. lukijoille.
December 22, 2023
The first half was insufferable but the second half was tolerable. The ending was kinda cute but it just wasn’t for me.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews