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Gabby Duran #1
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables
Case The First Unsittable
The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the aliens are living among humans on Earth. And here at A.L.I.E.N we believe that even extraterrestrials need a babysitter now and then. No one was up to the task until now.
After accepting the top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye.
Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?
The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the aliens are living among humans on Earth. And here at A.L.I.E.N we believe that even extraterrestrials need a babysitter now and then. No one was up to the task until now.
After accepting the top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye.
Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2015
163 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Elise Allen
57 books128 followersLover of books, Disneyland, dogs, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 13, 2016
Allen's story of a tween super-nanny that gets chosen to join an organization that helps Aliens find babysitters is very creative and easy to read. My 10 year old nice loved it and wants to read more.
The things that happen to Gabby over the course of the book are an adventure that any kid would love to go on, while the friends and characters that populate it keep things light and at a great pace for younger readers.
A detail that I really loved was that it doesn't talk down to younger readers by only using very simple language. There were times when we had to get a dictionary and look up words, but the interruptions did nothing to dissuade my niece from wanting to read what would happen next. I loved that.
The things that happen to Gabby over the course of the book are an adventure that any kid would love to go on, while the friends and characters that populate it keep things light and at a great pace for younger readers.
A detail that I really loved was that it doesn't talk down to younger readers by only using very simple language. There were times when we had to get a dictionary and look up words, but the interruptions did nothing to dissuade my niece from wanting to read what would happen next. I loved that.
May 23, 2015
Synopsis- Gabby Duran is a world famous babysitter. She has clients all over the world. But when Gabby gets approached by “Edwina” from the The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (A.L.I.E.N.) with a special offer, Gabby is reluctant to agree, even with the wages offered. She has other clients! Then Gabby realizes that, with this job, she will have clients that are out of this world! She learns that aliens live on Earth alongside humans. They do a great job of blending in, but they need a babysitter who can be trusted. Babysitting aliens may be more than Gabby bargained for.
What I Thought- This was a great story about how you should go all in for what you like to do, and do it well. Gabby sacrificed her own free-time (and sometimes her safety) for other people. Gabby really is a role model. She’s clever, fun, and plays an instrument in school band. The plot is exciting and full of twists and turns. I like the character of Lee, Gabby’s best friend. She’s an eccentric, smart, geeky inventor. The authors really capture the sense of realism, even in the midst of aliens. Their writing style kept me reading and offered a fresh twist on a babysitting story. Boys and girls will like this one. The book was funny, action-packed, and altogether a great read.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
What I Thought- This was a great story about how you should go all in for what you like to do, and do it well. Gabby sacrificed her own free-time (and sometimes her safety) for other people. Gabby really is a role model. She’s clever, fun, and plays an instrument in school band. The plot is exciting and full of twists and turns. I like the character of Lee, Gabby’s best friend. She’s an eccentric, smart, geeky inventor. The authors really capture the sense of realism, even in the midst of aliens. Their writing style kept me reading and offered a fresh twist on a babysitting story. Boys and girls will like this one. The book was funny, action-packed, and altogether a great read.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2015
Great adventure though a little predictable! Kids will love it! Men in Black meets middle school!
March 2, 2016
Super cute book! Loved! It's like babysitters club but with aliens!
March 22, 2015
Totally entertaining, with a giant big dose of empathy.
January 13, 2016
Really fun alien, young teen book. Absolutely nothing questionable about content (unless you're against aliens being on earth.)
August 22, 2015
Fabulous read. Very entertaining. So funny, exciting, wacky, touching.
July 10, 2017
(this review is for books 1-3 as a whole)
Twelve year old Gabby Duran is a babysitter extraordinare! In fact, she’s such a fantastic babysitter that celebrities fly her all over the world to watch their kiddos...and her babysitting skills have been noticed by A.L.I.E.N. (The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings), who recruit Gabby to watch alien children, who have been deemed “unsittable”, because of their otherworldly appearances and abilities. Gabby, whose own little sister was deemed unsittable, eagerly agrees to work with A.L.I.E.N. and her liaison Edwina, and she and her two best friends (Zee and Satchel) quickly find themselves in out-of-this-world, outrageous, and sometimes downright perilous situations with her alien charges. But at the end of the day, Gabby knows that aliens or not, her charges are special and deserve to be treated just like any other fun-loving kids!
The Gabby Duran series, which currently includes Gabby Duran and the Unsittables, Troll Control, and Multiple Mayhem, is a fast-paced, fun series, full of quirky characters, wildly adventurous situations, cool technology, laugh-out-loud humor and dialogue, and charming storytelling.
Authors, Elise Allen and Daryle Conners take babysitting to a whole new intergalactic level and definitely bring the laughs, excitement, and heart! With a wonderfully imaginative plot (alien babysitting?!), irresistibly likable and engaging characters (humans and aliens alike), awesomely twisty and turny situations, and elements of STEM learning, these books will captivate, entertain, and inspire young readers.
I has such a blast reading this series, getting to know Gabby, Zee, Satchel, the alien kids, Edwina, and even snooty Madison, and joining them for three unforgettable and zany adventures!
Twelve year old Gabby Duran is a babysitter extraordinare! In fact, she’s such a fantastic babysitter that celebrities fly her all over the world to watch their kiddos...and her babysitting skills have been noticed by A.L.I.E.N. (The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings), who recruit Gabby to watch alien children, who have been deemed “unsittable”, because of their otherworldly appearances and abilities. Gabby, whose own little sister was deemed unsittable, eagerly agrees to work with A.L.I.E.N. and her liaison Edwina, and she and her two best friends (Zee and Satchel) quickly find themselves in out-of-this-world, outrageous, and sometimes downright perilous situations with her alien charges. But at the end of the day, Gabby knows that aliens or not, her charges are special and deserve to be treated just like any other fun-loving kids!
The Gabby Duran series, which currently includes Gabby Duran and the Unsittables, Troll Control, and Multiple Mayhem, is a fast-paced, fun series, full of quirky characters, wildly adventurous situations, cool technology, laugh-out-loud humor and dialogue, and charming storytelling.
Authors, Elise Allen and Daryle Conners take babysitting to a whole new intergalactic level and definitely bring the laughs, excitement, and heart! With a wonderfully imaginative plot (alien babysitting?!), irresistibly likable and engaging characters (humans and aliens alike), awesomely twisty and turny situations, and elements of STEM learning, these books will captivate, entertain, and inspire young readers.
I has such a blast reading this series, getting to know Gabby, Zee, Satchel, the alien kids, Edwina, and even snooty Madison, and joining them for three unforgettable and zany adventures!
July 20, 2015
Cute and funny. A nice MG starter Scifi
June 15, 2019
The premise of the book would have deserved at least another star, but the actual execution was so spotty that I just couldn't give it more than three for the actual book.
Part of the problem for me came from just HOW good Gabby is supposed to be as a babysitter. That was just surreal, especially when you do the math on things like her travel time to and from sitting jobs. Nope, even a private jet takes time, and given things said during the story, far more time than she has in a week. She's in school, a serious music student, and has a zillion hours of babysitting jobs a week plus, you know, things like homework, eating and sleeping. Okay, let's not belabor that.
Gabby's ability to empathize with her babysitting charges is amazing, and is why she is contacted by someone who wants her to handle truly unusual cases, but...Edwina is just too much of a jerk, and that quickly becomes actually dangerous both for Gabby and for the children she's sitting. That bothered me as a reader the first time that Gabby [and me, the reader] couldn't TELL if Edwina was telling the truth about not understanding what Gabby was saying over the phone.
The kids she's sitting, both "normal" and otherwise, are really cute, but the actions of Edwina and her organization are just hard to overlook. You can't stay secret and safe if you act like an idiot all the time.
I've been told that the TV adaptation of this series will change things a lot, and so we'll see if they improve the parts of the story that I don't currently like.
Part of the problem for me came from just HOW good Gabby is supposed to be as a babysitter. That was just surreal, especially when you do the math on things like her travel time to and from sitting jobs. Nope, even a private jet takes time, and given things said during the story, far more time than she has in a week. She's in school, a serious music student, and has a zillion hours of babysitting jobs a week plus, you know, things like homework, eating and sleeping. Okay, let's not belabor that.
Gabby's ability to empathize with her babysitting charges is amazing, and is why she is contacted by someone who wants her to handle truly unusual cases, but...Edwina is just too much of a jerk, and that quickly becomes actually dangerous both for Gabby and for the children she's sitting. That bothered me as a reader the first time that Gabby [and me, the reader] couldn't TELL if Edwina was telling the truth about not understanding what Gabby was saying over the phone.
The kids she's sitting, both "normal" and otherwise, are really cute, but the actions of Edwina and her organization are just hard to overlook. You can't stay secret and safe if you act like an idiot all the time.
I've been told that the TV adaptation of this series will change things a lot, and so we'll see if they improve the parts of the story that I don't currently like.
December 26, 2019
This book puts a new spin on babysitting. Not only is Gabby watching over difficult children, but children from other planets with powers and problems she has never faced before. I do wonder why she has so much freedom at home. I mean, the story starts off with her flying out to a movie set to babysit for the day and then flying back. The girl is in school, that doesn't seem like something a parent would let a child do. After that, everything else seemed kind of calm and realistic in comparison.
I appreciate the fact that the aliens were all different and not the stereotypical version that is normally portrayed. Instead of the aliens being the threat, it's the humans, and Gabby has to question everything and everyone she knows. There were a few times while reading that I was completely off on a person's intentions. I think part of it is because the little alien Gabby is watching for most of the book is so cute in my mind that I wanted to protect her.
Author: Elise Allen
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 12th 2015
I appreciate the fact that the aliens were all different and not the stereotypical version that is normally portrayed. Instead of the aliens being the threat, it's the humans, and Gabby has to question everything and everyone she knows. There were a few times while reading that I was completely off on a person's intentions. I think part of it is because the little alien Gabby is watching for most of the book is so cute in my mind that I wanted to protect her.
Author: Elise Allen
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 12th 2015
March 25, 2019
This story had great potential but just ended up missing the mark. It’s got aliens. How do you mess up aliens? Well, for one thing, you make them either almost entirely non-verbal or you have them appear sporadically to throw curveballs at the protagonist for no apparent reason.
There was no real story here. Just a protagonist who spends the entire time running from the bad guys only to have said bad guy turn out to not be a bad guy at all. That’s right, this kid has one mission which she fails. As in the set-up is, if you lose this alien child to the bad guy, the Earth gets blown up. She loses the kids. Except, just kidding, he wasn’t really a bad guy, everything’s fine. And the story ends. Just epically unsatisfying.
There was no real story here. Just a protagonist who spends the entire time running from the bad guys only to have said bad guy turn out to not be a bad guy at all. That’s right, this kid has one mission which she fails. As in the set-up is, if you lose this alien child to the bad guy, the Earth gets blown up. She loses the kids. Except, just kidding, he wasn’t really a bad guy, everything’s fine. And the story ends. Just epically unsatisfying.
July 4, 2018
A largely forgettable book, the opening of a series, with a strange premise and a fairly dull execution, which seems to be evaporating from my memory very quickly, that could be old age or the fact that the story never really grabbed my attention.
September 6, 2019
Hilarious!
I will be recommending this to my librarian friends and my 6th grade daughter who loves Babysitter's Club (new graphic novel versions). This is Babysitter's Club stuck in a blender with highspeed chases and mad scientist-like inventions.
I will be recommending this to my librarian friends and my 6th grade daughter who loves Babysitter's Club (new graphic novel versions). This is Babysitter's Club stuck in a blender with highspeed chases and mad scientist-like inventions.
May 10, 2017
Very fun & what I would call a cute read. I describe the subject matter as a teenage, babysitting version of Men in Black.
August 3, 2017
Perfect read-together book or independent read for young elementary age kiddos. Thanks to Disney for sending us a review copy--we are so glad we found this fun series!
November 29, 2017
St. Peter's Battle of Books list 2017
Science fiction, humor, fast-paced, plot-driven, engaging characters, first in a series
Science fiction, humor, fast-paced, plot-driven, engaging characters, first in a series
July 25, 2018
I only read the first chapter. I couldn't get into this book.
August 17, 2018
Amazing book for all ages!
I didn't know if I would like this book. I loved it! I couldn't put it down! It also made me wonder about MY teacher!
I didn't know if I would like this book. I loved it! I couldn't put it down! It also made me wonder about MY teacher!
September 22, 2018
Very fun!! Recommended for grades 3 & up.
August 4, 2021
A very entertaining story of an strong, creative and compassionate 12 year old who gets recruited to babysit alien children. MIB + Adventures in Babysitting. Funny, fast paced, and memorable.
August 9, 2024
My daughter and I loved this book! It is very different from the tv show, but it still is interesting and suspenseful. We recommend it!
February 22, 2025
An incredibly charming story with excellent characters and creative aliens. Pretty awesome.
June 6, 2022
In chapter 3, Edwina (an old woman in black) made an offer of a job to Gabby Duran, to babysit a boy named Philip to spend 4 times her hourly rate in 10 minutes in the basement. Philip showed Gabby to play his favourite game. Suddenly, Philip's skin started to bubble and wrinkle as his body changed and glowered.
In the middle of chapter 4, Gabby found out that Philip was an alien.
Gabby is babysitting a girl named "Wutt" (an alien) who can transform into anything. In chapter 12, Gabby Duran told Wutt to transform into a rag doll. She wore a red gingham dress with black strappy shoes. Gabby showed some of the school (I think?) kids her doll. Instead of naming the doll Wutt, she named her Wendy, because She is special to Gabby. Gabby told the kids that they can only hug her with love. You don't want to poke any holes or even rip into Wendy.
In the middle of chapter 4, Gabby found out that Philip was an alien.
Gabby is babysitting a girl named "Wutt" (an alien) who can transform into anything. In chapter 12, Gabby Duran told Wutt to transform into a rag doll. She wore a red gingham dress with black strappy shoes. Gabby showed some of the school (I think?) kids her doll. Instead of naming the doll Wutt, she named her Wendy, because She is special to Gabby. Gabby told the kids that they can only hug her with love. You don't want to poke any holes or even rip into Wendy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2015
A pretty cute and satisfying MG, though not one you can put a lot of thought into.
Gabby Duran is a twelve year old supersitter. She's in demand around the world, flying to movie sets to watch action stars' triplets and such. Since her dad's death in the Army, her mom's catering company isn't quite enough to pay the bills, (which her genius younger sister handles, along with all the books and scheduling for two businesses,) so Gabby's shouldering a lot of responsibility. When a mysterious woman in a black limousine offers her a ten minute sitting job at four times her usual rates, Gabby sees an opportunity to not only help the family, but save for her dream, a prestigious music college.
Edwina introduces Gabby to Philip, his parents, and their talking cat. Despite a rough start, the job is a total success and Gabby is inducted into A.L.I.E.N. as the official Sitter to the Unsittables. Aliens are among us and they really need a date night without their slugspawn.
First, Gabby says her charges have known her since they were infants. They're four. Who is letting eight year olds babysit? Who is letting twelve year olds fly across the country to babysit? The Babysitters Club wouldn't let anyone under eleven in, and then only as junior members who needed supervision. This is ridiculous. Someone call a child labor lawyer STAT.
Gabby's a great sitter though. She really loves the kids and engages them with a way that's charming to see. The main plot unfurls when she's forced to watch a shapechanging alien named Wutt while at school. (Are pre-teens in 2015 really going to get the Abbot and Costello joke when we meet Wutt's parents Hoo and Ayedunno? I did chuckle.) Gabby consistently puts Wutt's needs first, tries to be entertaining but educational, and really cares about her charge. When an anti-alien group, G.E.T.O.U.T. shows up and everything goes pear shaped, Gabby never complains. In fact, that's kind of my problem. Gabby's too perfect and adapts too quickly. I wanted to see her get a little more ruffled. She also keeps the existence of aliens a secret for less than 24 hours, which is why we don't entrust that knowledge to pre-teens.
On the moral side, there's a good lesson about appearances being deceiving. Content wise, it's absolutely ok for younger MGers, probably even reaching down to the 7-8 range. (Two brief references to dad dying in the army and one mildly scary chase scene where the heroines roll into a ditch.) In all, a cute couple of hours, but not a book I'll keep on my shelves, as my 11 year old nieces are probably already too old for it.
Gabby Duran is a twelve year old supersitter. She's in demand around the world, flying to movie sets to watch action stars' triplets and such. Since her dad's death in the Army, her mom's catering company isn't quite enough to pay the bills, (which her genius younger sister handles, along with all the books and scheduling for two businesses,) so Gabby's shouldering a lot of responsibility. When a mysterious woman in a black limousine offers her a ten minute sitting job at four times her usual rates, Gabby sees an opportunity to not only help the family, but save for her dream, a prestigious music college.
Edwina introduces Gabby to Philip, his parents, and their talking cat. Despite a rough start, the job is a total success and Gabby is inducted into A.L.I.E.N. as the official Sitter to the Unsittables. Aliens are among us and they really need a date night without their slugspawn.
First, Gabby says her charges have known her since they were infants. They're four. Who is letting eight year olds babysit? Who is letting twelve year olds fly across the country to babysit? The Babysitters Club wouldn't let anyone under eleven in, and then only as junior members who needed supervision. This is ridiculous. Someone call a child labor lawyer STAT.
Gabby's a great sitter though. She really loves the kids and engages them with a way that's charming to see. The main plot unfurls when she's forced to watch a shapechanging alien named Wutt while at school. (Are pre-teens in 2015 really going to get the Abbot and Costello joke when we meet Wutt's parents Hoo and Ayedunno? I did chuckle.) Gabby consistently puts Wutt's needs first, tries to be entertaining but educational, and really cares about her charge. When an anti-alien group, G.E.T.O.U.T. shows up and everything goes pear shaped, Gabby never complains. In fact, that's kind of my problem. Gabby's too perfect and adapts too quickly. I wanted to see her get a little more ruffled. She also keeps the existence of aliens a secret for less than 24 hours, which is why we don't entrust that knowledge to pre-teens.
On the moral side, there's a good lesson about appearances being deceiving. Content wise, it's absolutely ok for younger MGers, probably even reaching down to the 7-8 range. (Two brief references to dad dying in the army and one mildly scary chase scene where the heroines roll into a ditch.) In all, a cute couple of hours, but not a book I'll keep on my shelves, as my 11 year old nieces are probably already too old for it.
June 10, 2015
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is a middle grade novel by Elise Allen and Daryle Connors. The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the truth: aliens are living among humans on Earth. After accepting a top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye. Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is a fun and fast paced middle grade novel. Gabby is a great babysitter, one that cares about every kid and understands that understanding the child being cared for makes babysitting easy. She deals with every quirk and troubling behavior without losing her cool, well until she is kinda kidnapped by Edwina and offered an unusual new child to what- who just happens to transform into something new. I really like that the story includes ideas about responsibility and empathy while being so fun and action packed that the lessons are almost subliminal. There are plenty of silly moments, as well as some that will have readers holding their breath. I think this book will be a big hit with middle grade readers, and many older readers as well.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is a wonderful read for the middle grade and older. I think anyone that has been in a situation where they have babysat or even had the responsibility of taking care of another human being for a few minutes, will connect with Gabby and the story almost immediately. Anyone that is a little different, or that enjoys a good science fiction tale will also enjoy the book.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is a fun and fast paced middle grade novel. Gabby is a great babysitter, one that cares about every kid and understands that understanding the child being cared for makes babysitting easy. She deals with every quirk and troubling behavior without losing her cool, well until she is kinda kidnapped by Edwina and offered an unusual new child to what- who just happens to transform into something new. I really like that the story includes ideas about responsibility and empathy while being so fun and action packed that the lessons are almost subliminal. There are plenty of silly moments, as well as some that will have readers holding their breath. I think this book will be a big hit with middle grade readers, and many older readers as well.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is a wonderful read for the middle grade and older. I think anyone that has been in a situation where they have babysat or even had the responsibility of taking care of another human being for a few minutes, will connect with Gabby and the story almost immediately. Anyone that is a little different, or that enjoys a good science fiction tale will also enjoy the book.
August 30, 2015
So you think you've had some interesting baby sitting experiences? Well, I think Gabby Duran has you beat. After all, sitting for the "Unsittables" isn't a walk in the park. This story was absolutely adorable! A light, quick-moving, and grin inducing romp through the life of a very special baby sitter. I zipped through this, and I don't regret one minute of it.
Now, this is definitely a book targeted at Middle Grade readers. If you can't let go of reality long enough to accept the fact that Gabby is quite a popular baby sitter, and by that I mean movie stars fly her to their sets to watch their kids, then the sheer silliness of this story won't sit well with you. If you can, you're in for a treat! This book is the perfect MG no-brainer. It has the perfect amount of MG friendly tension and intrigue. There isn't anything too gross or too scary to address when deciding whether to put this in a readers hands. Best of all, there's an underlying message. One of understanding, patience, and acceptance.
If you aren't sold yet, let me tell you that Gabby Duran is a wonderful character. On top of being a compassionate and amazing baby sitter, she's also a very smart and resourceful young girl. Her affection for the children she worked with was infectious. It could very well be that I'm biased, seeing as how I worked with children for a huge portion of my life, but I loved seeing that kind of passion in a book character. There wasn't a single part of Gabby that I didn't feel connected to, and I'm not even the target audience.
Are you looking for a new book for that MG reader in your family? Consider putting this in their hands. Then sit back, and prepare for the giggles to start.
Now, this is definitely a book targeted at Middle Grade readers. If you can't let go of reality long enough to accept the fact that Gabby is quite a popular baby sitter, and by that I mean movie stars fly her to their sets to watch their kids, then the sheer silliness of this story won't sit well with you. If you can, you're in for a treat! This book is the perfect MG no-brainer. It has the perfect amount of MG friendly tension and intrigue. There isn't anything too gross or too scary to address when deciding whether to put this in a readers hands. Best of all, there's an underlying message. One of understanding, patience, and acceptance.
If you aren't sold yet, let me tell you that Gabby Duran is a wonderful character. On top of being a compassionate and amazing baby sitter, she's also a very smart and resourceful young girl. Her affection for the children she worked with was infectious. It could very well be that I'm biased, seeing as how I worked with children for a huge portion of my life, but I loved seeing that kind of passion in a book character. There wasn't a single part of Gabby that I didn't feel connected to, and I'm not even the target audience.
Are you looking for a new book for that MG reader in your family? Consider putting this in their hands. Then sit back, and prepare for the giggles to start.
May 12, 2015
I have decided that I am in the wrong business and Gabby Duran has the job that I want!
I loved this book--it made me giggle all the way through. I am a huge fan of middle-grade fiction. I love the fantastic story lines and the fun events that adult books just can't quite pull off. This book is the epitome of everything a good mid-grade book should be.
Gabby Duran is a wonderful character that kids will have no trouble relating to. She is smart, sly and compassionate. One of my favourite things about this book was Gabby's obvious affection for all the little kids (both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial,) that she sat for. She is a good role model for patience and acceptance of those who are a bit different.
This is filled with the fun kind of danger that will keep young readers on their toes and wanting to turn pages. I loved the shape-shifting alien and the silly humour. This book doesn't have any gross-out humour, so parents can feel good about their kids reading it. The authors took enough liberties with reality to make it fun, but not so many that you can't follow the story. I am really looking forward to seeing where else Gabby goes and what adventures await her.
If you are looking for a book for a special child in your life, this would be a perfect choice. Recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, Disney Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved this book--it made me giggle all the way through. I am a huge fan of middle-grade fiction. I love the fantastic story lines and the fun events that adult books just can't quite pull off. This book is the epitome of everything a good mid-grade book should be.
Gabby Duran is a wonderful character that kids will have no trouble relating to. She is smart, sly and compassionate. One of my favourite things about this book was Gabby's obvious affection for all the little kids (both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial,) that she sat for. She is a good role model for patience and acceptance of those who are a bit different.
This is filled with the fun kind of danger that will keep young readers on their toes and wanting to turn pages. I loved the shape-shifting alien and the silly humour. This book doesn't have any gross-out humour, so parents can feel good about their kids reading it. The authors took enough liberties with reality to make it fun, but not so many that you can't follow the story. I am really looking forward to seeing where else Gabby goes and what adventures await her.
If you are looking for a book for a special child in your life, this would be a perfect choice. Recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, Disney Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2015
This book reminds of the transition between the Rococo and Neoclassical art movements. It was Rococo because it was fluffy and fun to read with silly aliens, while it was neoclassical because it had a moral message and predictable plot line. It was a good book that was a fast read. It also had some pretty funny moments. Gabby Duran is a great babysitter, movie stars will fly her to the ends of the earth just so she can babysit their children for the day. She has a way with children that makes no child "unsittable". But, when A.L.I.E.N contacts her about a new gig babysitting what has until now been deemed unsittable, Gabby is up to the challenge. The hardest part will be keeping it a secret. This book has a great message about acceptance, there are a couple of wanting to throw it at a wall moments when Gabby has to keep a secret, but I liked Gabby's decisions and it is a fun read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes aliens, science fiction or Welfy Q. Deederhoth: Meat Purveyor, World Savior by Eric Laster. I gave this book four stars because it was funny and good, the only thing that kept it from five stars was the fact that it was too young for me and very predictable (but that did not take away from the story).
April 14, 2015
Gabby is the best sitter there is, she is even hired by movie stars to look after their kids because nobody else can handle them. Gabby believes that there is no child that’s unsittable, you just need to figure them out. So when her newest charge suddenly transforms and his pet cat starts talking Gabby handles it – after some screaming.
After Gabby is trusted with the A.L.I.E.N secret she gets left with a little alien girl (who’s rather endearing) to look after while Gabby is still at school. With a concert, and anti- A.L.I.E.N organisation on her heals and having to keep the secret from her friends she’s got her hands full.
With so much going on in a relatively short book there isn’t a lot of time for you to get to know the characters that well. Gabby is nice and her family and friends seem to come with interesting backstories but they don’t get explored, I’m guessing this will be for future books.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is the first of what reads like an entertaining middlegrade series. I’d like to see what the next book is like.
After Gabby is trusted with the A.L.I.E.N secret she gets left with a little alien girl (who’s rather endearing) to look after while Gabby is still at school. With a concert, and anti- A.L.I.E.N organisation on her heals and having to keep the secret from her friends she’s got her hands full.
With so much going on in a relatively short book there isn’t a lot of time for you to get to know the characters that well. Gabby is nice and her family and friends seem to come with interesting backstories but they don’t get explored, I’m guessing this will be for future books.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is the first of what reads like an entertaining middlegrade series. I’d like to see what the next book is like.
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