A Twist of Fate

Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair #7

by Laurie B. Friedman, Natasha Shaloshvili (Illustrations)

April is stunned when her grandma announces she has cancer. Rather than undergo difficult treatment, Gaga takes the whole family skiing! When disaster strikes, April has to try to embrace Gaga's approach: life is what you make of it.

Genres: Middle Grade

168 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2016

About the author

Laurie Friedman is the author and ghostwriter of over 300 award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and novels for young readers including the bestselling Mallory McDonald series, the Moose the Dog easy reader series, the Camp Creepy Lake and Wendy & Willow chapter books, and may picture books including Cows in the House and Love, Ruby Valentine.

Reviews

[Nora S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book because April's grandma did some unexpected things. For example, she when on a skiing trip after announcing she has cancer. On the trip April's cousin Harry and her sister May pressured her into skiing on a more advanced run and when she did she fell and broke her foot and she couldn't ski for the rest of the trip. I would recommend this book to girls in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. I would recommend reading the first 6 books in the series before reading this one. If you liked those books than you will probably like this one as well.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a lot more family-oriented than the first of the series, which I appreciated, and April seems to have mellowed a bit with age. (I credit the influence of her homeschooled friend who is now in college at 16.) The family ski trip was relatable, even if the family does seem to have a few too many problems going on, and I think April reacts realistically and appropriately to the bad news about her grandmother's health. I don't think there was much of anything new about the story, or the way it was told, but it's a solid addition to the series.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

April and her whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins & siblings) are going on a ski trip to Coloroda. April's Grandma, Gaga, announces to the family that she has terminal cancer and will not be seeking treatment. Instead, Gaga wants to enjoy her remaining time with her family, and take them on a big family vacation.

Hearing that her Grandma has cancer makes it very hard for her to enjoy the vacation.

Overall, is a good realistic fiction book for older children to read.

[Isabella W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Twist of Fate because it was realistic fiction.
It also had a good climax and and lots of characters.