Love Stinks!

Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo #15

by Nancy E. Krulik

It’s February and love is in the air! Everyone in the fourth grade is getting into the Valentine spirit. The kids are making cards, and are ordering personalized candy hearts from Cinnamon’s Candy Shop, the new candy store in the mall. But Katie has had enough—she is definitely not into all this mushy gushy stuff! So Katie makes a decision: there’ll be no Valentine’s Day for her this year. But then Katie turns into Cinnamon, the candy store owner. And the personalized hearts she makes up are...well...not exactly to order! By doing this, she practically ruins Valentine’s Day for everyone. Will Katie have a change of heart and save the day?

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary, Humor

80 pages, Paperback

First published December 29, 2004

About the author

Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times bestsellers. She is best known, however, for being the author and creator of the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo book series, which has brought her to the attention of second, third, and fourth graders nationwide.

Nancy has also written extensively for teens and is well known as a biographer of Hollywood's hottest young stars. Her knowledge of the details of celebrities lives has made her a desired guest on several entertainment shows on the E! network as well as on Extra and Access Hollywood. She can be seen there talking about the secret lives of such celebs as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, and Frankie Muniz. Nancy has also been a guest on radio broadcasts nationwide discussing the superstars she has researched over the years.

As the author of several teen and preteen advice books, including Grosset and Dunlap's Prom!: The Complete Guide to a Truly Spectacular Night, Nancy has been interviewed by several prominent magazines including Cosmo Girl, Teen, Teen People, Seventeen, and Teen Celebrity. She has also been the celebrity guest for three Teen People chat presentations. Nancy has recently begun to delve into the teen novel market, writing four romances for young adults, all of which will be published between 2004 and 2005.

Nancy currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their two children, Amanda and Ian, and a crazed cockerspaniel named Pepper .

Reviews

[kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny reading this to my class. The girls loved the "girly" in the characters and the boys loved to cringe at the love theme (but couldn't wait to find out what happened next). Everyone seemed to enjoy the story.

[Meghan Nels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see why so many girls enjoy this series and want more books in the series in the library. Katie Kazoo is sweet and cute series. I'll continue to promote the books in the series I have in the library.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'But the boys like you as a pal. Not like a valentine.'
Katie wanted to shout that no one liked Suzanne like a valentine, either."
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Katie is neutral ground - she is friends with both the boys and the girls. Sometimes, the girls are too much for her because Katie doesn't obsess over crushes like they do. Suzanne is an attention hoarder and is the type of character that I don't know why the main character is best friends with - she is manipulative and selfish. Katie switcheroos into the candy store owner, Cinnamon, and accidentally lashes out at Suzanne because of some nasty things Suzanne had just said to/about Katie. As Cinnamon, Katie indulges in eating some of the candy at the store and messes up the girls' orders (kind of on accident). As usual, Katie must help make amends for the consequences she caused when she turns back into herself.
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I'm enjoying rereading a handful of books from this series and appreciate all the distinct characters.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heft plot of this "comic reader" is perfect for school kids who'd like to have a laugh about Valentine's Day.

Everyone in the fourth grade is getting into the Valentine spirit.

So much mushy talk. Then such a refreshing stink. (I mean, plot twist.)

FIVE STARS

[Patch Sing · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I've ever read in 2nd grade that made the obsessive reader I am today. Thank you Katie Kazoo. When my nieces are old enough to read I'll be sure to get them this too because it's short, easy to comprehend, and the illustrations are Lovely.

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it ! It was very funny when she switcherooed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was the best book i ever read.

[Kelsie Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd be the rebel gifting valentines to a girl crush.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Katie Kazoo as a kid and wanted to listen to something simple and festive. To my surprise, this was available on Libby, so I indulged in nostalgia for half an hour.

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and everything.

This is another one with glitter on the cover! On this one, it's just a slight glitter on that slightly darker purple part of the bottom half of the cover. It's not nearly as bright as the Critter Club book, and I think that reflects that this is for a slightly older audience. In this one, they do talk a lot about crushes and it's an RL 3.4.

I think this one is a little predictable, a little stereotypical, and while I have only read this one, I feel like it's probably pretty formulatic. I think formulatic isn't necessarily a bad things for this age range, since it can make readers very comfortable in what they're reading. They know what to expect with each book. And there is a pretty good message in there about empathy and understanding what others are dealing with.

The illustrations are cute, although I do question that out of like a dozen people we see, none of them are fat? Or disabled? And there's like two black kids out of their whole class we see and like everyone else is white? But maybe that's explored better in other books in the series. All in all, this is a cute book. It's not amazing, it's not terrible. I can see why they're popular for sure, and I see nothing really wrong about this, just some underwhelming elements.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

suzzane and becky and emma want there valentine's sent to there school where the boy they like gets there valentine.and when katie turns into cinnamon things get worse katie who is cinnamon accidentally tore up suzzane's,becky's,and emma's thing that they want to say on there valentines and when the boys get there valentines what suzzane wanted to say on her valentines was wrong so were becky's and emma's. so they got mad at cinnamonand never went to her shop to make up cinnamon threw a big party where u get free candy.

[Jocelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little series is really cute. I have really enjoyed reading it. I have been turned on to this series by niece, because she has left behind a couple of the books at my home. Katie Kazoo is able to switch into different people and experience life as someone else for a little while. This book is about the frustrating holiday Valentine's Day. All of her friends are going ga-ga about Valentine's day and just acting generally goofing. Funny story.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, I think it's funny how Becky keeps bothering Jeremy because she has a crush on him and Jeremy gets grumpy. And the magic wind turned Katie into Cinnamon, the candy shop maker. And people have been ordering hearts and Katie has to make them before the mailman comes. In this book, Katie learned that Valentine's Day isn't so bad.

[Megan Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is probably one of the dumbest books i've ever read. i read some from the series. its about this girl who turns into other people, by this wirlwind/tornado that spins around her and then turns her into someone else. NEVER READ THIS BOOK!!! ITS DUMB!

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that katiekazoo have to wash. Because she didn't shower about 1 moths because she don't want to shower.

i think you can read that because it good to know why you should shower all the time and they can learned how to keep clean your body and it good and very funny book.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read because I could actually relate to this book and that is rare because I don't really like to read at all. I would recommend it to people who like books about succeeding in challenges and love.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ASWOM

[Miki]

good

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good a book Katie feels really bad want she done read whole first

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books ever

[benie m · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a feel good book, I just read it for the sake of valentines day. I do love all of Nancy Krulik's Katie Kazoo books, and even some of her George Brown Class Clown books.

[Miki]

good