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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
My first thought was "My, this was a juvenile book"! and then I realized it is, literally, juvenile fiction! However, this entry in the Casson family oeuvre somehow lacks the wit and character development of the other stories. Not sure if it's because it's a prequel, done in retrospect, so we know more about all the characters that we're allowed to know here (none of Caddy's precious friends are mentioned in the other books, so that part feels fake, for example; Rose is there; Bill isn't. . . ) or if it's just that the usual witty writing has been watered down and very small plot issues are puffed up to make them seem major, but this is not a good effort by McKay. "Okay" is as far as I can go!
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adore this series and all of the sweet, funny, quirky characters. I first read one of these books when I was in middle school and am returning to them now as an adult exploring writing middle grade fiction. I'm charmed and never want to put them down!
Oh, how glorious it is to read a new Hilary McKay book! Caddy's World lived up to its predecessors in the Cassons family saga, and went a long way toward explaining Caddy's odd behavior later in life. It makes emotional sense to me that she was the one most wounded by Bill's moving to London, by the secrets, by the way things changed in the house. The others were presented with a fait accompli and could hardly imagine a life different from the harum scarum life they had always led.
I gave this four stars because it is funny, and I love any book about the Casson family, but so far this is my least favorite book in the series. This is the story of the chaotic time in the Casson family and especially in Caddy's life. The time when Rose was born, early and everyone was afraid that she wouldn't live. However, because it is a book by Hilary McKay the book is funny rather than gut wrenching.
Ahhhhhh…. A book that has NOTHING TO DO WITH PILOTS, CONCENTRATION CAMPS, WORLD WAR TWO, OR MY BOOK GROUP!!!!
Hilary McKay is my favourite contemporary children’s author. I’ve said this before and I’ll probably say it again. Her prose is effortless and timeless, and I can gloss over things like the mention of Harry Potter and Dr. Who in 1996 because really, we know, these are contemporary children, and it doesn’t matter what year it was set in.
Another book about the Cassons is kind of like fanservice at this point… and you know what? I am that fan. In Caddy’s World McKay goes back to a pre-Rose time that doesn’t actually have a lot of room for plot, since we KNOW what’s going to happen, but it’s fun anyway. It’s so nice, in a self-indulgent kind of way (I say this as a reader!), to see Bill and Eve in a relationship that still works, to bask in the smug knowledge that the Firework Baby isn’t going to die, and to smirk at the prequel-world-segue into a recognizable child-Rose, The First Hamster, and the Arrival of Michael.
Sara’s comment: Hilary McKay seems to have forgotten about their granddad. And it is true that Caddy was the only one who remembered him properly, in [b:Saffy's Angel|324377|Saffy's Angel (Casson Family, #1)|Hilary McKay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173756975s/324377.jpg|2998976], and it would have been nice if he’d had some small role or even a mention in Caddy’s World. Sara also wished, and I agree, that we’d get a story featuring Eve and … um, I forget Eve’s twin sister’s name, but her. Possibly as teens. It would mean going back in time even more, but it would at least give McKay the opportunity to break out of the eternal round of Banana House domestic disasters (enjoyable though they are)—I love the Cassons and don’t mind more of them, but I think that as a writer it may be time for McKay to move on.
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BTW Oh Mysterious Publishing Gurus: Both Sara and I really dislike the new covers.
Hilary McKay is my favourite contemporary children’s author. I’ve said this before and I’ll probably say it again. Her prose is effortless and timeless, and I can gloss over things like the mention of Harry Potter and Dr. Who in 1996 because really, we know, these are contemporary children, and it doesn’t matter what year it was set in.
Another book about the Cassons is kind of like fanservice at this point… and you know what? I am that fan. In Caddy’s World McKay goes back to a pre-Rose time that doesn’t actually have a lot of room for plot, since we KNOW what’s going to happen, but it’s fun anyway. It’s so nice, in a self-indulgent kind of way (I say this as a reader!), to see Bill and Eve in a relationship that still works, to bask in the smug knowledge that the Firework Baby isn’t going to die, and to smirk at the prequel-world-segue into a recognizable child-Rose, The First Hamster, and the Arrival of Michael.
Sara’s comment: Hilary McKay seems to have forgotten about their granddad. And it is true that Caddy was the only one who remembered him properly, in [b:Saffy's Angel|324377|Saffy's Angel (Casson Family, #1)|Hilary McKay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173756975s/324377.jpg|2998976], and it would have been nice if he’d had some small role or even a mention in Caddy’s World. Sara also wished, and I agree, that we’d get a story featuring Eve and … um, I forget Eve’s twin sister’s name, but her. Possibly as teens. It would mean going back in time even more, but it would at least give McKay the opportunity to break out of the eternal round of Banana House domestic disasters (enjoyable though they are)—I love the Cassons and don’t mind more of them, but I think that as a writer it may be time for McKay to move on.
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BTW Oh Mysterious Publishing Gurus: Both Sara and I really dislike the new covers.
Delightful, as always, if very slightly disappointing in that it is a prequel rather than giving us an update on the family.
I love the Cassons, so I loved this.
However, I think McKay devoted too much time to unnecessary characters, namely Caddy's friends.
However, I think McKay devoted too much time to unnecessary characters, namely Caddy's friends.
Rereading the Casson Family from the beginning! This is the only one I never read as a kid, because it came out after I had already finished the series. It's a wonderful prequel that reminds me how much I loved reading about this family.
Well-written, though the Casson family alternately amused and irritated me.
Oh how I love the Casson Family! They are just so lovable and eccentric and zany! This book is a prequel to Saffy's Angel. It is very fun to see Caddy-not quite grown up. Indy and Saffy and the arrival of Rose.
Caddy's best friends Ali, Beth, and Ruby are all fun additions, and it is fun to see Caddy interact with them. A certain driving instructor appears at the end of the book. Don't be surprised if I start calling everyone "darling". I just can't help it!
I would definitely hand this series to fans of the Penderwick sisters.
Caddy's best friends Ali, Beth, and Ruby are all fun additions, and it is fun to see Caddy interact with them. A certain driving instructor appears at the end of the book. Don't be surprised if I start calling everyone "darling". I just can't help it!
I would definitely hand this series to fans of the Penderwick sisters.