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Lumberjanes (Novels) #3
Lumberjanes: The Good Egg
Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen . . . and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries.
Book three shines the spotlight on Ripley, the smallest, youngest, most animal-loving member of the cabin. When Ripley comes across an abandoned egg, she’s determined to take care of it until the parent comes back. Unfortunately, her plan is quickly foiled by egg poachers, who steal the egg for their own collection.
Book three shines the spotlight on Ripley, the smallest, youngest, most animal-loving member of the cabin. When Ripley comes across an abandoned egg, she’s determined to take care of it until the parent comes back. Unfortunately, her plan is quickly foiled by egg poachers, who steal the egg for their own collection.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2018
21 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Mariko Tamaki
377 books2,233 followersMariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 25, 2018
Once again I feel like these prose novels somehow read 'younger' than the graphic novel series, but it is a cute and fun story and I definitely think that children in the target age range will really enjoy it. I liked that we got to see more of Barney in this one [I love Barney!], but also it seemed like Mal and Molly were hardly in it at all and I love them too. I didn't pay too much attention in the first two books about which Lumberjane was the 'main' character being focused on, but this one was definitely Ripley-centric.
March 31, 2019
It's time for Lumberjanes as I bring you the last chapter book in the Lumberjanes series, I did find it nice reading a chapter book for a change about their adventures rather than a graphic novel as the favorite thing about the books is that throughout the book it gives you a detailed list of some of the awesome badges that were mentioned in the story. In The Good Egg, Ripley is feeling a little lost without their friend Castor and the team spirit of the Lumberjanes is lacking morale. They need another challenge, something exciting. Therefore Rosie has invited on a former theatrical Lumberjane, and the cabins are being mixed up and have to perform a fairytale, but they also have to change the story up a bit. None of this boring original crap. While this is happening Ripley on one of her journeys found a nest of golden eggs and she nicknamed the baby egg Eggie. Someone has stolen the egg and Ripley is sad and depressed, now it is up to the some of the Roanoke and Zodiac cabins to save the egg from the tacky dressed Order of the Egg.
Meanwhile, Jen has trouble back at camp as a group of Griffins are also searching for their egg. It is said that Griffins love music, so can the other Lumberjanes back at camp led by Mal and Molly put on a fabulous show. Can the Lumberjanes once again save the day? Find out in The Good Egg by Mariko Tamaki and Brooklyn Allen, and as the Lumberjanes sign off I bid you "Friendship to the Max."
January 2, 2020
A great first book of the year! Ripley takes center stage in this one and learns she is more than just “the smallest”: she is also a great observer and planner! Loved her adventure with Barney and the egg!
April 22, 2019
This is my favorite in the series. It was clearly a character study on Ripley and it was a tale that heavily focused on the what the title implies. I hope the rest of the series continues in this vein.
November 18, 2020
My review of this book can be found on my Youtube Vlog at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmlQh...
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmlQh...
Enjoy!
January 9, 2019
I appreciate a little absurd humor in books catering to the reluctant reader crowd, but this one went too far out into left field. I didn't read books 1 and 2, so it's possible I missed something, but a story based on an egg obsession is pretty weak. Doesn't get my brain cells motivated much. This kind of humor does much better in graphic novels, so I can understand the popularity of the GN version. Kids love the idea of summer camp and camping, so there's definitely a good start here, but please, come up with something better than egg thieves in the woods.
December 11, 2018
I have loved all things Lumberjanes and this book did not disappoint.
May 29, 2020
The Lumberjanes novels continue to delight. I think Mariko Tamaki captures the heart of the series well, the humor, wordplay, and friendship. Ripley starred in this one, and she's not my favorite character, but the story recognized that she's characterized by being The Youngest, being excitable, and turned those into strengths while still writing a fun and engaging story.
It also had a couple scouts from Zodiac cabin join up--Barney, and Hes (who helped in some of the comics). I like these glimpses of other campers/cabins, both because it expands the scope of the story, and it also makes it clear that while Roanoke cabin might be dealing with the most weirdness, no one is having a completely normal summer camp experience.
"How come I have so much stuff?" April asked no one in particular, putting one foot on her pile. "This is a truly Sisyphean task, my friends."
The classic Sisyphean task involved rolling a rock up a hill, watching the rock roll down the hill, and then rolling it back up again. Not exactly like cleaning a cabin, but both can feel kind of endless.
Most of the scouts...spent the afternoon in a spontaneous in-cabin, camp-wide game of Oligopoly, a game where scouts compete to create an open market in which several small businesses can thrive and compete to benefit the community.
It is a very long game, because it takes a long time and hard work to make a community.
It also had a couple scouts from Zodiac cabin join up--Barney, and Hes (who helped in some of the comics). I like these glimpses of other campers/cabins, both because it expands the scope of the story, and it also makes it clear that while Roanoke cabin might be dealing with the most weirdness, no one is having a completely normal summer camp experience.
"How come I have so much stuff?" April asked no one in particular, putting one foot on her pile. "This is a truly Sisyphean task, my friends."
The classic Sisyphean task involved rolling a rock up a hill, watching the rock roll down the hill, and then rolling it back up again. Not exactly like cleaning a cabin, but both can feel kind of endless.
Most of the scouts...spent the afternoon in a spontaneous in-cabin, camp-wide game of Oligopoly, a game where scouts compete to create an open market in which several small businesses can thrive and compete to benefit the community.
It is a very long game, because it takes a long time and hard work to make a community.
February 24, 2019
I really enjoy the Lumberjanes series', both graphic novels and the novels. This book was no exception.
I do like how this novel series, geared at a slightly lower audience than the graphic novels, keeps the essence of the characters, while not really mentioning other parts of characters personalities. Elements that do not detract from the characters and story, but also are not necessary to go on about.
The cover is also quite appealing and I like the notebook style spine of the entire novel series (and that they have different colored spines/covers). I also like the texture differences in the cover
Okay, so for this novel specifically, I love the focus on Ripley (and Barney), the youngest of the Lumberjanes that we meet in the novels and graphic novels. It was nice that there really was a development of Ripley from just being a hyper-crazy-adorable ball of energy that gets into trouble to realizing she is not just the baby.
The story was well paced and I like how it was broken into various parts, with a Lumberjane badge being the focus point of each part. This is something that takes from the graphic novel series.
I can't wait to continue reading more books in the series.
I do like how this novel series, geared at a slightly lower audience than the graphic novels, keeps the essence of the characters, while not really mentioning other parts of characters personalities. Elements that do not detract from the characters and story, but also are not necessary to go on about.
The cover is also quite appealing and I like the notebook style spine of the entire novel series (and that they have different colored spines/covers). I also like the texture differences in the cover
Okay, so for this novel specifically, I love the focus on Ripley (and Barney), the youngest of the Lumberjanes that we meet in the novels and graphic novels. It was nice that there really was a development of Ripley from just being a hyper-crazy-adorable ball of energy that gets into trouble to realizing she is not just the baby.
The story was well paced and I like how it was broken into various parts, with a Lumberjane badge being the focus point of each part. This is something that takes from the graphic novel series.
I can't wait to continue reading more books in the series.
Read
March 7, 2021This was another cute lumberjane story. I really like how Ripley takes front stage and she gets to confront how she is the little sibling and she is cute and little. She finds an egg, she sees it get kidnapped, and she leads her friends to help save it! A real lumberjane adventure with the usual cast of characters and they each get to develop themselves and skills more. I kinda can't wait to read the next one! I'll have to wait till I finish a few more library books before I order it.
Quote:
"A cacophony is kind of like a buffet of very different noises mixed together, but in a very awkward and loud way. So, really, it's more like how your plate looks after you visit a buffet, if it were possible to pile a plate high with SOUNDS"(p. 2).
Quote:
"A cacophony is kind of like a buffet of very different noises mixed together, but in a very awkward and loud way. So, really, it's more like how your plate looks after you visit a buffet, if it were possible to pile a plate high with SOUNDS"(p. 2).
May 30, 2023
The Good Egg is the best book of the Lumberjane novelizations so far. Perhaps with Ripley as our lead, the story felt freer or more joyous than the other two, or Tamaki hit her writing stride.
The Good Egg combines the strengths of the Lumberjane series: friendship, problem-solving with creativity and brains, loyalty, and taking big and small risks. Plus, the griffins coming in partway as the magical creatures and parents of Eggie the golden egg added the supernatural touch without taking over the narrative from the girls.
We also see an expansion of the camp from different campers not in the original work, the library, and the drama teacher. And it turns out Jen isn't perfect at everything.
The Good Egg combines the strengths of the Lumberjane series: friendship, problem-solving with creativity and brains, loyalty, and taking big and small risks. Plus, the griffins coming in partway as the magical creatures and parents of Eggie the golden egg added the supernatural touch without taking over the narrative from the girls.
We also see an expansion of the camp from different campers not in the original work, the library, and the drama teacher. And it turns out Jen isn't perfect at everything.
February 27, 2019
Each of these improves upon the last. So, I'm not happy about having to wait another half year for the final book in this set. On the plus side, there is only a tiny inkling of a teaser and I'm fairly certain that that particular teaser was written into the comic some time ago. So, I think it's unlikely to refer to the fourth volume.
I also appreciated the use of Zodiac cabin in this story which is fairly Ripley oriented. I can only assume that last book will try and focus on April.
One other side note, am I the only one feeling that Mariko Tamaki prefers inventing new Badges and punny names for them to actually writing the stories?
I also appreciated the use of Zodiac cabin in this story which is fairly Ripley oriented. I can only assume that last book will try and focus on April.
One other side note, am I the only one feeling that Mariko Tamaki prefers inventing new Badges and punny names for them to actually writing the stories?
June 21, 2022
The Good Egg has just as much silliness as one would expect from a Lumberjanes story... but unlike the previous novels by Tamaki, that's pretty much all it's relying on. In the other novels, I felt like the prose allowed us to get to know the characters more deeply, but The Good Egg didn't really do that. The hyperactive, tangent-filled narration style was starting to get in its own way here. Still, the fun illustrations from Allen are present--and they seem to show Wren with a cochlear implant? Was that in any of the comics? But what to make of the bit where Wren is written as having more sensitive hearing than anyone else?
May 26, 2020
Fun continuation of the Lumberjanes story.
Ripley has found a nest full of eggs and "adopted" the smallest egg as one that she particularly likes.
The other eggs hatch, but Eggy is gone?
Meanwhile back at the camp, the lumberjanes are putting on theatrical productions in cross-cabin groups.
It turns out that Eggy's been snatched by an evil group of egg lovers. Ripley and crew help get it back, just in time to give the egg to its dad.
Ripley has found a nest full of eggs and "adopted" the smallest egg as one that she particularly likes.
The other eggs hatch, but Eggy is gone?
Meanwhile back at the camp, the lumberjanes are putting on theatrical productions in cross-cabin groups.
It turns out that Eggy's been snatched by an evil group of egg lovers. Ripley and crew help get it back, just in time to give the egg to its dad.
August 12, 2020
After the last book ended with a cabin-against-cabin competition, Galaxy Wars, this book begins with a bonding activity between cabins. The girls of Roanoke are split up, and paired with other campers.
Ripley, while venturing in the woods, finds a giant gold egg which she named Eggie, and visits daily....until one day it goes missing!
What follows is an adventure of both drama and saving Eggie! I can’t wait to read the 4th book in this series!
Ripley, while venturing in the woods, finds a giant gold egg which she named Eggie, and visits daily....until one day it goes missing!
What follows is an adventure of both drama and saving Eggie! I can’t wait to read the 4th book in this series!
April 14, 2023
This is an action-packed, plot-based novel. There were some fun moments, but character development felt a bit slim, and the story was mostly just over-the-top silliness. Unfortunately I never felt invested in the characters or the story. However, younger middle grade readers, those closer to the 8 year old mark, will likely enjoy it.
On the plus side, there were two aspects that I did enjoy: this book challenges gender roles and had LGBTQIA+ representation. So cheers for that!
On the plus side, there were two aspects that I did enjoy: this book challenges gender roles and had LGBTQIA+ representation. So cheers for that!
January 14, 2019
This one read maybe a touch younger than the previous two, but that felt kind of appropriate given this was the Ripley-centroc book and she's the youngest of the central crew. I really appreciated getting more Barney. It's so lovely to see a genderqueer character written at once so carefully and so casually
March 31, 2020
Every Lumberjanes book is filled with fun and adventure and being a good friend, and really just accepting people the way they are. Read all of them.
If you have girls in your life, encourage them to read these books so they know girls are capable of anything.
If you have boys in your life, encourage them to read these books so they know girls are capable of anything.
If you have girls in your life, encourage them to read these books so they know girls are capable of anything.
If you have boys in your life, encourage them to read these books so they know girls are capable of anything.
August 1, 2019
It is my personal belief that the Lumberjanes series consists of nothing but pure happiness, so naturally this book made me incredibly happy. I feel like I was smiling the entire time I was reading this. (Which, come to think of it, must've looked weird but it's fine. Happiness is a good thing.)
November 6, 2019
This one fell flat for me. I always seen Ripley as the youngest but this book made her seem more like a baby to me then a young girl and I didn’t like it. It was nice to see inside her head and the overall story was cute but, Ripley’s characterization wasn’t right to me.
September 12, 2020
When Ripley finds a nest of eggs, all but one hatches, so Ripley decides to protect the egg. But before Ripley can act, someone has stolen Eggie, and it's up to the Lumberjanes to rescue Eggie before it's taken away forever.
April 1, 2025
Such a cute story following Ripley and focusing on her unique experience as the youngest and smallest member of Roanoke cabin. I really enjoyed the frequency with which Barney showed up in this one. It was such a a cozy and fun read to enjoy on Trans Day of Visibility!
November 20, 2018
These books are a great complement to the Lumberjanes comics. I especially liked this one because Riley is best Lumberjane.
November 24, 2018
Another cute entry into the series. I think it's my least favorite of the three, but it's still very cute and fun.
January 6, 2019
Love, love, love the Lumberjanes!
January 14, 2019
So cute! I loved Ripley and her singing of her little songs in this one!
April 8, 2019
Really enjoyed this book! Might have been helpful to have read the first two books in series first??
February 27, 2020
I don't know why I really liked this one even more but I did.
Enjoy!!
Enjoy!!
March 3, 2020
While I did enjoy the griffins, I think this book read even younger than the previous two (perhaps because it focused on the youngest member of the cabin).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews