Flight of the Bluebird

The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters #3

by Kara LaReau, Jen Hill (Illustrator)

Fasten your seat belts for some unexpected turbulence ahead, as Jaundice and Kale Bland are back for their final unintentional adventure! Now that they’ve returned from the Uncanny Valley to find their home in Dullsville in absolute shambles, the sisters are rescued by high-flying aviatrix Beatrix Airdale. This time, they’re jetting off (literally) to Egypt to uncover the mysteries of a magical scarab.  By way of Casablanca and after foiling multiple attacks along the way (thanks to Jaundice’s nautical knot-tying skills and Kale’s super-sleuth powers of observation), the Bland Sisters are reunited with their parents. But it turns out that Mom and Dad aren’t as bland—or as “Bland”—as Jaundice and Kale remember. Thanks to their mother’s old archeology notebook, the Bland Sisters uncover their parents’ real identities and help them achieve victory in one final, family-filled adventure.  

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure, Childrens, Chapter Books

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2019

About the author

Kara LaReau was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and later worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and at Scholastic Press. Among other celebrated titles, she edited Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and the Mercy Watson series. She is the author of picture books such as UGLY FISH, illustrated by Scott Magoon, Baby Clown, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, and Goodnight Little Monsters, illustrated by Brian Won; chapter book series Witchycakes, illustrated by Ariane Moreira and The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers; and middle-grade trilogies The ZomBert Chronicles, illustrated by Ryan Andrews, and The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, illustrated by Jen Hill.  Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and daughter and their cats.

Reviews

[Tim Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole point of the Bland sisters is that they are reluctant adventurers. Naturally, as the series progresses they begin to adapt to the lifestyle that has been thrust upon them. In this book they have stopped resisting but they have not yet embraced adventure. This leaves them as passengers, as non-participants, as zombies.

To make things worse, they have a designated guide and protector, and they know rather too much about what is going on. That greatly reduces the emotional impact of the events. It is difficult for the reader to engage with the characters.

The first book was funny. This one isn't.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great end to the series! I’m very sad to see Jaundice and Kale go because these books are so entertaining. This one was no different as it follows Jaundice and Kale finally reuniting with their parents. I loved that this book brought up issues regarding the theft of antiquities and its relation to cultural heritage. An important topic that is not usually discussed with children. If you want a good laugh with some very clever references then definitely check out this series.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bland Sisters are criminally underrated and have everything you could want in a fun adventure middle grade novel-- humor, twists, facts, feminism, and finishing with the feeling you were right there on the adventure with them. I was so sad when I saw in the author's note that this is the last one. I hope maybe someday there will be more!!!

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this final installment to be a huge disappointment compared to the first two books in the series, especially after the middle installment was such a great mystery. I was going to ask least give it two stars, but then there was the author's choice to write "womanfested" to replace the word manifested. Can we not. Seriously. The writing just did not seem as good to me, the chapters were significantly longer, and everything regarding the parents seemed rushed. I also just didn't care for the mother's character. She came off as selfish and bossy to me. And it seemed like the author was purposely trying to insult the dad and how he looked. "Unfortunately" the girls looked more like their dad than their beautiful mother. That's rude. And I really started getting the vibe that the author felt women should be more important, more useful, more intelligent, more everything than men. I don't like that thinking. I think that kind of thinking helps no one. We need to work together. Very disappointed this was how the author chose to end the series.

And then there was the whole "stealing" thing. The people on the tombs are dead. We don't need to encourage false religious beliefs by saying they need their stuff in the afterlife. In the actual afterlife, you can take your stuff with you. Your stuff doesn't win you a better afterlife.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaundice and Kale Bland aren't the adventurous type, at least they didn't used to think so. But that was before they were kidnapped by pirates and solved a mystery on a train. And now they are on the ultimate adventure as they set off to find their parents in Egypt. Naturally they run into plenty of trouble along the way, not the least of which is Jaundice's air sickness. And once the girls and their companion reach Egypt there is the matter of finding and rescuing their parents. Once again, LaReau has written a wryly amusing story full of unexpected twists and turns and funny reactions from the girls and their companions. I appreciated LaReau's taking the time to research her subject before deliberately fictionalizing things for the sake of the story. This is a fun series for those who enjoy stories with a wry twist and rather atypical characters.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little ending.

I love how brave the two girls are. I love everything we learned about them and their parents. I also loved all the Egyptian history and notes, that's my favourite kind of history and mythology.

It was such a nice way to close out the series, I love that the girls are going on adventures with their parents now and loving it. A little sad we don't get to see those adventures, but still okay with how things ended.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thrilling conclusion to the Adventures of the sisters Bland. It's wonderful to see what they've learned and how they have grown, and also how they have managed to stay bland through all of their new experiences.

We learn more about their parents and their history, as well as meeting new friends.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Bland Sisters adventure! This time the girls, who would much rather be home darning socks and eating day old cheese and bread, find themselves on an adventure to Egypt. Will they finally be reunited with their parents? It's nonstop adventure and hijinks in this fun to read series!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to see if I can get more kids into this trilogy. It's funny with lots of lessons if you're willing to take a risk and if your willing to appreciate ordinary plainness. Kale and Jaundice do make me smile!

[emyrose8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5- the last romp of the Bland sisters is full of all the things we love about them! I like how they’re growing a bit more adventurous (somewhat unwillingly). Very detailed setting- the author did a lot of research to make it realistic.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series, and the reluctant adventures of the Bland sisters, Kale and Jaundice.

[Terri L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun series! Smart girls, mystery and historical fiction. I do hope she will consider writing another!!

[lilly liang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series! Would totally recommend for all ages :)

A great book
I liked the entire book basically
Nothing else a great book overall and i love it! Totally recommend

[Andrea Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed hanging out with the Bland girls and finally getting to meet their parents. This one was in Egypt with dream scarabs and airplanes so I enjoyed it more than the last one.

[LizthePrude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sad that there were only three books in this series. It was quite enjoyable! And the jokes that only the adults would understand were fabulous.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uhhh so maybe I should have started with book 1 here?

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5--see http://www.eatreadandbemommy.com/2022... for details.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly exciting conclusion to the story of the Bland sisters.

[Jim Welke · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great little book with a lot of clever wordplay. I didn't read books one or two; I was attracted to the name of the book. If you read the first two books, it will make more sense when you read this book. Books like this can create an interest in both geography and history.