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Beacon Street Girls Special Adventures #4
Katani's Jamaican Holiday
Meet the Beacon Street Girls...
They're real, they're fun -
they're just like you!
Jamaican breezes are calling, and one hardworking BSG definitely deserves a getaway! But Katani's Caribbean dream trip may not be all soft sand and warm surf. When Grandma Ruby learns that the family's famous banana bread bakery is in serious danger, Katani's business savvy is put to the ultimate test. Spooky stories, dolphins, horseback rides on the beach, a mysterious old lady, and a lost heirloom add up to plenty of colorful island adventure for Katani and her family.
They're real, they're fun -
they're just like you!
Jamaican breezes are calling, and one hardworking BSG definitely deserves a getaway! But Katani's Caribbean dream trip may not be all soft sand and warm surf. When Grandma Ruby learns that the family's famous banana bread bakery is in serious danger, Katani's business savvy is put to the ultimate test. Spooky stories, dolphins, horseback rides on the beach, a mysterious old lady, and a lost heirloom add up to plenty of colorful island adventure for Katani and her family.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Annie Bryant
53 books114 followersThe Beacon Street Girls books are inspired by all the preteen girls I've ever known. I wanted to create a world where girls can go to have fun and learn about who they are, while modeling real-life experiences. The first book, Worst Enemies/Best Friends, explores creating and testing friendships, skewed first impressions, and being the new kid at school. In the end, true friendship conquers all. Welcome to the world of the BSG!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Grandma Ruby has received a letter from her Aunt Faith in Jamaica asking her to visit for a little while and help with the family banana bread bakery while her aunt has surgery. Katani can't wait to go along and bask in the tropical sun on the Jamaican beaches, and, soon enough, both she and Grandma Ruby are in the airport at Montego Bay meeting Katani's older cousin, Selvin.
But surf and sand is something Katani sees little of on her Jamaican holiday. The bakery where her relatives bake the island's famous "Nana's Banana Bliss" is in danger, threatened by a larger company who might even be using a spy. When Katani's cousin, Olivia, loses a priceless necklace that belonged to her deceased mother, Katani gets roped into helping her get it back from their blind neighbor's dog.
On their midnight mission, they see one of Aunt Faith's employees sneaking around in the bakery. But how can they reveal who the spy is if they would only get in trouble themselves?
This book captivated me with its descriptions of Jamaica, its people, and its traditions, all while tying into an interesting mystery. Aside from a few rather lame attempts at mentioning other characters in the BSG series and how they would appreciate such and such thing, this story stands perfectly well by itself, and it is not necessary to have read any other books in the series prior to this one.
Grandma Ruby has received a letter from her Aunt Faith in Jamaica asking her to visit for a little while and help with the family banana bread bakery while her aunt has surgery. Katani can't wait to go along and bask in the tropical sun on the Jamaican beaches, and, soon enough, both she and Grandma Ruby are in the airport at Montego Bay meeting Katani's older cousin, Selvin.
But surf and sand is something Katani sees little of on her Jamaican holiday. The bakery where her relatives bake the island's famous "Nana's Banana Bliss" is in danger, threatened by a larger company who might even be using a spy. When Katani's cousin, Olivia, loses a priceless necklace that belonged to her deceased mother, Katani gets roped into helping her get it back from their blind neighbor's dog.
On their midnight mission, they see one of Aunt Faith's employees sneaking around in the bakery. But how can they reveal who the spy is if they would only get in trouble themselves?
This book captivated me with its descriptions of Jamaica, its people, and its traditions, all while tying into an interesting mystery. Aside from a few rather lame attempts at mentioning other characters in the BSG series and how they would appreciate such and such thing, this story stands perfectly well by itself, and it is not necessary to have read any other books in the series prior to this one.
May 4, 2013
This book is so awesome! It's about a girl named Katani from the BSG club, that traveled to Jamaica with her grandmother, because her grandma's aunt Faith is sick, and needed someone to take care of the 'Nana's Banana Bliss'business, because if not there business is going down, because there is a competition between Mr.Bliss who runs another same business as Aunt Faith. While Katani and her grandmother was visiting Jamiaca, her grandmother was busy about the business, while Katani had her little adventure. Like swimming with dolphins, getting chase by a goat, horse back riding on the ocean, climbing the water wall, spooky stories, a mysterious old lady, run away necklace, meeting a celebrity. This book is so epic! One of my favorite books now! Couldn't stop reading it, and it ended up, i'm done with it. And btw, it's a series of books, so.. gwana read the other books in the series!
July 16, 2009
NO for our library.
Culturally proficient Barbie-esque Jamaican adventure. Fans of the Beacon Street Girls series might bite onto it, but I think the appeal is a limited audience and not necessarily worth investing in hardcover copies (book series most widely available in paperback).
Culturally proficient Barbie-esque Jamaican adventure. Fans of the Beacon Street Girls series might bite onto it, but I think the appeal is a limited audience and not necessarily worth investing in hardcover copies (book series most widely available in paperback).
February 27, 2019
Was a great book! Wish can try the Banana Bliss Bread some time. Olivia, Katana sounds like very great friends. Jamaica sounds like very fun place to go one day. Katana did lot fun activities well she was their like horse back riding. Was fun learning about Jamaica.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
My first novel ever finished back in circa 2008/2009. Made me feel like I went to Jamaica on a holiday myself! Forever in my heart this book.
March 20, 2011
Katani's Grandma Ruby has just recieved a letter from Aunt Faith. She needs someone to take care of her banana bread bakery while she goes to get eye surgery. Grandma Ruby asks Katani if she would like to go to Jamaica with her. Excited to spend her days lounging at the beach, Katani, without a moment's hesitation, says yes. But Katani's dreams of swimming and tanning are ruined when her cousin Olivia gets her into a little more trouble than she planned for, including a spy in the family bakery, a missing necklace, and a mysterious lady.
This is the first BSG Special Adventure book I have read, and I can definitely say it had its good points and bad points. Since this book is only from Katani's point of view instead of all the BSG, Annie Bryant has written this book in the first person. I really liked that. To me, books are a lot more meaningful and insightful when in the first person than in the third person. The thing that I didn't really like about this book, is that the "mysteries" aren't all too great. They want you to know, who is this spy?? When you find out, you don't really care anymore. I don't know, I just felt that Annie could have done a little better job writing the problems and solutions of this book.
This is the first BSG Special Adventure book I have read, and I can definitely say it had its good points and bad points. Since this book is only from Katani's point of view instead of all the BSG, Annie Bryant has written this book in the first person. I really liked that. To me, books are a lot more meaningful and insightful when in the first person than in the third person. The thing that I didn't really like about this book, is that the "mysteries" aren't all too great. They want you to know, who is this spy?? When you find out, you don't really care anymore. I don't know, I just felt that Annie could have done a little better job writing the problems and solutions of this book.
February 28, 2010
I liked the way the author writes about two different places.The author writes about how Jamaica is different or the same than Boston.
I want to know why even though Katani's Uncle is mad that his wife died why is he always strict and mad at his daughter.It's like he is thinking that his daughter had something to do with his wife dying.
I liked this book because it talks about two different places.the difference, and similaries between them.
The main characters of this book is katani,Ruby,Aunt Faith Katani's cousin's and uncle.They are the main characters because the book mostly talks about them and their conflicts.
I want to know why even though Katani's Uncle is mad that his wife died why is he always strict and mad at his daughter.It's like he is thinking that his daughter had something to do with his wife dying.
I liked this book because it talks about two different places.the difference, and similaries between them.
The main characters of this book is katani,Ruby,Aunt Faith Katani's cousin's and uncle.They are the main characters because the book mostly talks about them and their conflicts.
August 17, 2010
Honeslty, I found this book quite a bore. I had to force myself to finish it. It took me a while, not because of the lenghth but because of the boredom I was experiencing. Perhaps this book wasn't for me and you might enjoy it but I wish I had not read it. Basically it is about Katani landing a trip to Jamacia to help her grandma's business. This book hardly even focused on that. Usually the Beacon Street Girls books interest me and I enjoy them but this book, this terrible book, made me reconsider. Read it if you ejoy dull and no-plot type of books. Enjoy.
October 11, 2008
it was ok. on the back cover, it talked about how aunt faith' banana bread bakery was in jepordy. i thought that the book didn't talk enough about nana's banana bliss, even though it was the reason katani went to jamaica.
April 23, 2014
Best book ever
Best book ever
you have to read this book I LOVED it. So many people in this book amazing. Jamaicans speak weird but you can get the word right most of time.
Best book ever
you have to read this book I LOVED it. So many people in this book amazing. Jamaicans speak weird but you can get the word right most of time.
March 17, 2010
looks good
going to boaders tom. to get it!
going to boaders tom. to get it!
March 22, 2012
This was a good book
October 1, 2013
I can't put this book down!!!!!!!
September 27, 2016
Loved reading about Katani's adventures! She's so awesome!
June 14, 2014
This book was pretty good: not predictable and interesting. It makes me want to go to Jamaica!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews