What do you think?
Rate this book
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June
I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn?t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself. Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents? divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood?powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?
April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds?everyone?s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they?ll always have each other.
Because there?s one thing stronger than sisterhood.
April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds?everyone?s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they?ll always have each other.
Because there?s one thing stronger than sisterhood.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2010
64 people are currently reading
4250 people want to read
About the author
Robin Benway
23 books2,034 followersRobin Benway is a National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of six novels for young adults, including Far From the Tree, Audrey, Wait!, the AKA series, and Emmy & Oliver. Her books have received numerous awards and recognition, including the PEN America Literary Award, the Blue Ribbon Award from the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, ALA’s Best Books for Young Adults, and ALA’s Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. In addition, her novels have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly, and have been published in more than 25 countries. Her most recent book, Far From the Tree, won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the PEN America Award, and was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, PBS, Entertainment Weekly, and the Boston Globe. In addition, her non-fiction work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Bustle, Elle, and more.
Robin grew up in Orange County, California, attended NYU, where she was a recipient of the Seth Barkas Prize for Creative Writing, and is a graduate of UCLA. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Hudson.
Robin grew up in Orange County, California, attended NYU, where she was a recipient of the Seth Barkas Prize for Creative Writing, and is a graduate of UCLA. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Hudson.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 523 reviews
February 15, 2018
3.5 stars
A fun, cute, adorable with a healthy dose of paranormal story about three sisters, April, May and June who for some reason (and don’t expect for any explanation because there isn’t any) have these supernatural abilities which they decide to utilize only for self-serving purposes because they didn’t want to meddle with the world. Lol.
Each girl has her own POV and you get to see their individualities in their own narratives. I think Ms. Robin Benway did a topnotch job on depicting the characters of the three girls. Just take a peak on their personalities with these one-liners.
April: “A little respect for the written word, please.”
May: “The rest of the day continued its usual pattern of suckage.”
June: “I’m going to be popular. “
The entire narrative is hilarious and I’ve had many laugh-out-loud moments. The girls are humorous and likable in their own ways and you can’t help but root for them. Just one of those lol scenes.
April: “So how do this work?”
Julian: “I think I have to pick you and pay for shit.”
April: “Do I have to wear heels and look cute? ‘Cause I really don’t have time to do all that.”
Julian: “Hell, I don’t care. I’ve already seen you look like this so it’s not like you have to impress me.”
So even though there wasn’t much depth to the plot, it’s actually almost ridiculous, the story was super entertaining and the writing and characterizations are clearly spot on and thus deserves 3.5 clearly good stars.
A fun, cute, adorable with a healthy dose of paranormal story about three sisters, April, May and June who for some reason (and don’t expect for any explanation because there isn’t any) have these supernatural abilities which they decide to utilize only for self-serving purposes because they didn’t want to meddle with the world. Lol.
Each girl has her own POV and you get to see their individualities in their own narratives. I think Ms. Robin Benway did a topnotch job on depicting the characters of the three girls. Just take a peak on their personalities with these one-liners.
April: “A little respect for the written word, please.”
May: “The rest of the day continued its usual pattern of suckage.”
June: “I’m going to be popular. “
The entire narrative is hilarious and I’ve had many laugh-out-loud moments. The girls are humorous and likable in their own ways and you can’t help but root for them. Just one of those lol scenes.
April: “So how do this work?”
Julian: “I think I have to pick you and pay for shit.”
April: “Do I have to wear heels and look cute? ‘Cause I really don’t have time to do all that.”
Julian: “Hell, I don’t care. I’ve already seen you look like this so it’s not like you have to impress me.”
So even though there wasn’t much depth to the plot, it’s actually almost ridiculous, the story was super entertaining and the writing and characterizations are clearly spot on and thus deserves 3.5 clearly good stars.
September 6, 2016
This book was hilarious . I don't mean haha that's ironic sort of way; I mean the burst out laughing and people look weird at you in public way. I would have to say this would be one of my highly anticpated books this year. Here we have three sisters who are named respectively April, May and June, and all are a only a year apart from each other in age. I have two sisters and we all only a year apart too, so I wanted to see how the author would represent a relationship like that. You are kind of forced (not in a bad way) to be close, and it has it's own kind of language and intricacies.
Of course these sisters have a bigger dilemma other than their unfortunate names; they have supernatural powers. April can see the future, May can virtually disappear, and June can read minds. The sisters are struggling with how to deal with their powers, and find themselves in a bit of a mess. April keeps seeing snippets of things that aren't making sense to her, May keeps disappearing at inappropriate times, and June is using her powers to climb the social ladder. Needless to say the powers seem to be breaking them apart, and making their lives complicated. One night will test all of them, and see how strong their bond really is.
The book has some great one-liners that had me laughing so much. That alone made me happy to see, because it's a true talent to be able write something funny. It did capture the easy banter between siblings, the inside jokes, the looks that tell everything, the endless comebacks and the unwritten rules that can't be broken. Each sister had a unique voice and I never thought any of them sounded similar. They all have different perspectives and personalities, but shared one thing in common: in their own way they look out for each other. That's what being a "good" sibling is all about.
I was disappointed that we don't get more explanation of why they had their powers, and it could have been much more epic because hello they have SUPERpowers. I get the inkling Benway may write a sequel making a person who shows up in the story as the new lead, but that's just a speculation. The story can end here, and it reminded me of how comforting, annoying, crazy and awesome it is to have sisters.
Of course these sisters have a bigger dilemma other than their unfortunate names; they have supernatural powers. April can see the future, May can virtually disappear, and June can read minds. The sisters are struggling with how to deal with their powers, and find themselves in a bit of a mess. April keeps seeing snippets of things that aren't making sense to her, May keeps disappearing at inappropriate times, and June is using her powers to climb the social ladder. Needless to say the powers seem to be breaking them apart, and making their lives complicated. One night will test all of them, and see how strong their bond really is.
The book has some great one-liners that had me laughing so much. That alone made me happy to see, because it's a true talent to be able write something funny. It did capture the easy banter between siblings, the inside jokes, the looks that tell everything, the endless comebacks and the unwritten rules that can't be broken. Each sister had a unique voice and I never thought any of them sounded similar. They all have different perspectives and personalities, but shared one thing in common: in their own way they look out for each other. That's what being a "good" sibling is all about.
I was disappointed that we don't get more explanation of why they had their powers, and it could have been much more epic because hello they have SUPERpowers. I get the inkling Benway may write a sequel making a person who shows up in the story as the new lead, but that's just a speculation. The story can end here, and it reminded me of how comforting, annoying, crazy and awesome it is to have sisters.
May 26, 2020
Favorite quote: “I like used books because they’re full of stories that have already been read.”
July 10, 2018
Well...Let's see...
I felt as if I was watching this heart-warming family movie throughout the while I was reading The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June.
The book revolves around three sisters who discover they have super powers which (and I liked this thing about the story) did not use their powers to become superman and save the world, not that I'm against that kind of notion, but sometimes one could use extraordinary abilities for self improvement as well, like April, May and June, who used their strengths to discover their weeknesses, and overcame peer pressure and other social elements to preserve the love and affections for eachother.
The book was not bad: it was funny, and light; a relaxing read.
There was some suspense, nice humour, a little romance, familial love for sure! And over all it was good.
Personally, I felt it hard to get through the first few chapters, and really had decided to put it down already, but to everyone who feels this way about the book...give it a chance. latter chapters are better:)
I felt as if I was watching this heart-warming family movie throughout the while I was reading The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June.
The book revolves around three sisters who discover they have super powers which (and I liked this thing about the story) did not use their powers to become superman and save the world, not that I'm against that kind of notion, but sometimes one could use extraordinary abilities for self improvement as well, like April, May and June, who used their strengths to discover their weeknesses, and overcame peer pressure and other social elements to preserve the love and affections for eachother.
The book was not bad: it was funny, and light; a relaxing read.
There was some suspense, nice humour, a little romance, familial love for sure! And over all it was good.
Personally, I felt it hard to get through the first few chapters, and really had decided to put it down already, but to everyone who feels this way about the book...give it a chance. latter chapters are better:)
September 10, 2015
No está mal, lo cierto es que no esperaba que fuese tan entretenido ^^ 3/5
http://mislibrosyotrashistoriasquemeg...
http://mislibrosyotrashistoriasquemeg...
July 12, 2015
I've ran out of Robin Benway books now. :(
September 30, 2021
שלוש אחיות תלמידות תיכון מתמודדות עם הגירושים של הוריהן, עם מעבר דירה ועם כוחות העל שפתאום הופיעו אצלן.
לא עמוק אבל זורם ונעים לקריאה. הדמות של מאי והכוחות שלה לא מספיק פותחו לדעתי. רוב הדגש הוא על אפריל ויוני.
אומנם הצגה של כוחות על כדימוי להתבגרות נפוצה למדי אבל הכתיבה פה מציגה אותו טוב.
לא עמוק אבל זורם ונעים לקריאה. הדמות של מאי והכוחות שלה לא מספיק פותחו לדעתי. רוב הדגש הוא על אפריל ויוני.
אומנם הצגה של כוחות על כדימוי להתבגרות נפוצה למדי אבל הכתיבה פה מציגה אותו טוב.
November 14, 2015
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
4 stars
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.75
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: April- 4.25 May- 4 June-3.75
Swoon Worthy Scale: Julian- 4.25 Henry- 3.5
There was no villain in this novel because they had to deal with their own minds and how they accepted this new power.
Character Scale: 4
Plotastic Scale:4.25
Cover Thoughts: I like the cover. I usually read dark covers, but it’s nice to read a light fun cover that looks fun and makes me want to go to a sleepover. I like the other cover more, but I still really like this one.
4 stars
April, May, and June are sisters. Yes, they know that their names are totally cliché and ridiculous so you don’t need to point it out to them. After dealing with their parents divorce, they find themselves living in a new house in a place where they don’t know anyone. One day they wake up and strange things start happening to them. It soon becomes clear that they have ‘superpowers’ or some kind of weird ability. April the oldest of the sisters is protective, responsible, bookish, and a mother hen. She discovers she can see the future which only proves to be disastrous when it comes to boys and her sisters. May is the middle-child and she’s a natural born loner. She discovers that she has the ability to disappear which is handy, but also a problem. June is the youngest of the sisters and she’s tired of being considered the baby. June can read people’s minds and she uses it to her advantage to become popular. Yes this book sounds super cheesy but I love cheese and sometimes a cheese fest is what I need.
I honestly have no clue why I put that picture, but I like it and think it's kind of funny in a messed up way.I was expecting a total cheese fest and I got one, but I also got a story that I enjoyed and even loved. The minute I read the first sentence I was sucked in and didn’t want to put this book down. Which was a good thing because I had to take LEAP that week, a standardized test in Louisiana taken in 4th and 8th grade to see if you are ready to pass. I’m a fast test taker so once I was finished all I did was read and if I’m going to be sitting in a desk for three hours straight when I’m done taking a test, I want to be reading a good book. The book is told from alternating points of view and each voice was enjoyable and realistic. They sounded like real teens to me and I should know what a teenager sounds like since I am one.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.75
The main female characters are April, May, and June. Each girl has a very distinct voice, problem, and fear. April was very protective of her sisters and I could relate to that since I have a sister. She was my favorite of the three. May feels invisible and like she doesn’t belong. I liked her and I think we’ve all felt that way. June was my least favorite of the sisters but I still liked her. She wanted to belong and fit in. I think we’ve all felt that way at some point in our life. These girls were extremely relatable and their problems were fun to read about.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: April- 4.25 May- 4 June-3.75
The main male characters are Julian and Henry. They were both love interest. Julian was April’s love interest and I loved him. Julian was sweet and their relationship wasn’t rushed and slowly blossomed from a friendship to relationship. Henry wasn’t nearly as entertaining, but I still liked his relationship with May. But he was a huge jerk at one point in the novel and he made me so angry I wanted to slap him.
Swoon Worthy Scale: Julian- 4.25 Henry- 3.5
There was no villain in this novel because they had to deal with their own minds and how they accepted this new power.
Character Scale: 4
One of the things I had wanted more from this book was to how and where their superpowers came from. It was slightly touched on when June talked to her mother but we never really got an exact explanation as to why they had these powers. I’m not sure how to categorize this novel. Yes they have superpowers, but the novel focused more on sisterhood and other teenage problems. So maybe, a realistic paranormal story is the best way to describe this book. I still love the book though and it was more than I was expecting. I am definitely checking out more of Benway’s works because she is an excellent writer.
Plotastic Scale:4.25
Cover Thoughts: I like the cover. I usually read dark covers, but it’s nice to read a light fun cover that looks fun and makes me want to go to a sleepover. I like the other cover more, but I still really like this one.
December 7, 2010
April, May and June are three sisters whose parents are in the middle of a divorce. Their mom uproots them and moves them to a new town, where they have to navigate the highs and lows of high school. When they recover special powers they had and lost as children, the three girls realize that while they can use the powers to their advantage when dealing with the woes of high school, the powers might serve a greater purpose, too.
Benway is a strong writer with a sharp wit and good technical skill. She excels especially when dealing with character dialogue. It was present in her debut, Audrey, Wait! and it's present here, in her sophomore effort. She is able to create teenagers that are real, flawed, and often genuinely funny.
What is also notable about this story is the way that Benway explores the bonds of sisterhood. Exploring the complex relationships of siblings is a rarity in YA, but Benway dives right into the concept and gets her hands dirty. Sibling relationships are a messy web of love and hate and jealousy and fierce protectiveness, and Benway hits on all of these points with poignancy and heart.
The novel is told through the three very different perspectives of the sisters. Each girl has a unique voice and view of the world around her, and each sister's corresponding special power is supposed add dimension to her personality and character. But the special powers are where the weakness in the book begin to show itself, because something about it just simply didn't work.
Although the girls have special powers, very little time is given to exploring what that means. If the powers are supposed to serve as a mystery, it's a failure. There is no mystery surrounding the powers, and the result is a bit of a disappointment. In fact, the story is stronger when the powers are being largely ignored. Benway is much more skilled at exploring interpersonal relationships than she is at the mystical forces behind the sisters.
In this reader's opinion, the book would be stronger without the mystic elements. The relationship between April, May, and June is compelling enough without the added magical elements. Benway's writing is strong enough to stand alone, without the help of flashy but ultimately empty bells and whistles.
Benway is a strong writer with a sharp wit and good technical skill. She excels especially when dealing with character dialogue. It was present in her debut, Audrey, Wait! and it's present here, in her sophomore effort. She is able to create teenagers that are real, flawed, and often genuinely funny.
What is also notable about this story is the way that Benway explores the bonds of sisterhood. Exploring the complex relationships of siblings is a rarity in YA, but Benway dives right into the concept and gets her hands dirty. Sibling relationships are a messy web of love and hate and jealousy and fierce protectiveness, and Benway hits on all of these points with poignancy and heart.
The novel is told through the three very different perspectives of the sisters. Each girl has a unique voice and view of the world around her, and each sister's corresponding special power is supposed add dimension to her personality and character. But the special powers are where the weakness in the book begin to show itself, because something about it just simply didn't work.
Although the girls have special powers, very little time is given to exploring what that means. If the powers are supposed to serve as a mystery, it's a failure. There is no mystery surrounding the powers, and the result is a bit of a disappointment. In fact, the story is stronger when the powers are being largely ignored. Benway is much more skilled at exploring interpersonal relationships than she is at the mystical forces behind the sisters.
In this reader's opinion, the book would be stronger without the mystic elements. The relationship between April, May, and June is compelling enough without the added magical elements. Benway's writing is strong enough to stand alone, without the help of flashy but ultimately empty bells and whistles.
March 17, 2011
The book is very easy to like. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June contains exactly what its the title says. There’s the eldest, April. She can see the future. Next is May; she turns invisible (What’s not ironic about an invisible girl reading about the Invisible Boy?) Then June. The baby of the three- she reads minds.
All these powers are discovered (or rediscovered?) on the first day of school. So to say that it starts when their old life “ends” and new life begins is both convenient… and hilarious. But the title fails to convey just how funny and individual the girls are. April with her overprotective streak, May with her teen angst, i.e. I’m disappearing both figuratively and literally. As well as June’s exuberance… This was what I was expecting when I got started on the Weird Sisters. (And what I said in that review about those sister’s chronological order having an impact on the way they turned out also applies here Weird Sisters . Pigeonholing based on birth.
But, anyway...
There’s more. After having a vision, April is convinced that she must keep her baby sister away from a certain boy. I stop here. So, yeah, there are boys in it. What YA doesn’t? My one problem is… for both the older sisters, I mean, why does there have to be a boy to help in the saving? That aside, I really enjoyed (a.) May’s caustic humor and (b.) April’s straight forward demeanor when dealing with Julian. June, though? not as much.
3.5
All these powers are discovered (or rediscovered?) on the first day of school. So to say that it starts when their old life “ends” and new life begins is both convenient… and hilarious. But the title fails to convey just how funny and individual the girls are. April with her overprotective streak, May with her teen angst, i.e. I’m disappearing both figuratively and literally. As well as June’s exuberance… This was what I was expecting when I got started on the Weird Sisters. (And what I said in that review about those sister’s chronological order having an impact on the way they turned out also applies here Weird Sisters . Pigeonholing based on birth.
But, anyway...
There’s more. After having a vision, April is convinced that she must keep her baby sister away from a certain boy. I stop here. So, yeah, there are boys in it. What YA doesn’t? My one problem is… for both the older sisters, I mean, why does there have to be a boy to help in the saving? That aside, I really enjoyed (a.) May’s caustic humor and (b.) April’s straight forward demeanor when dealing with Julian. June, though? not as much.
3.5
August 4, 2011
Street corner tbr challenge
August pick #1 per Flannery
Spoilers mixed about:
Meet April, the oldest sister. She's overprotective, bossy and in charge. She has recently started to have visions of the future. They are freaking her out and now her sisters reveal their "powers" as well?!?!? April is in a constant state of freaking out. She is tightly wound.
May is the middle sister. She has middle child syndrome to the max. Since the divorce of her parents (recently), May has been seclusive. Dissapointment seems to be her middle name. Even her "ability" doesn't seem as wonderful as her sisters.... She has the power to turn invisible, but it's also affected by her emotions. Body parts start going bye-bye in not-so-good situations.
June is the youngest. She is also the girliest.She wants to start high-school off right... by being popular. With her gift of mind reading, it should be a breeze.... if her sister's would stay off her back.
Will the calender sisters use these gifts for good?
My thoughts/rambles:
The beginning of this started off a little slow for me. I enjoyed reading from each of the sisters pov's. I feel like there was such a huge potential for a great magic story, but this one got watered down at times. Some of my questions did not get answers.
I adored Jullian.
3 stars
September 8, 2011
If you are a teenager, then you will probably love this book.
If like me, you are just an adult curious to see what the book was about (or persuaded by your fourteen year-old sister that it's "the best book I've read all summer, and "TOTALLY worth it") you will be entertained, at most, but honestly not fascinated.
The book isn't horrible, it's actually pretty funny and engaging and I laughed out loud a couple of times.
The plot, however, and the characters are created for a YA audience. I also felt that it was more about getting to know the characters than actually seeing some action, because in the end, what you thought was the "horrible" premonition April had when "it all started" It's really no big deal.
I get it, it's for young adults! you can't go all "I have cancer, or I am now paralyzed" on teenagers (laughs) still, the plot could have been... how do I say this? more dramatic!
Regardless, I enjoyed reading it (it was short enough for me to finish it in like 2 nights) and I recommend it for young adults. I guess I should travel back in time with a copy and read it at fourteen! :)
If like me, you are just an adult curious to see what the book was about (or persuaded by your fourteen year-old sister that it's "the best book I've read all summer, and "TOTALLY worth it") you will be entertained, at most, but honestly not fascinated.
The book isn't horrible, it's actually pretty funny and engaging and I laughed out loud a couple of times.
The plot, however, and the characters are created for a YA audience. I also felt that it was more about getting to know the characters than actually seeing some action, because in the end, what you thought was the "horrible" premonition April had when "it all started" It's really no big deal.
I get it, it's for young adults! you can't go all "I have cancer, or I am now paralyzed" on teenagers (laughs) still, the plot could have been... how do I say this? more dramatic!
Regardless, I enjoyed reading it (it was short enough for me to finish it in like 2 nights) and I recommend it for young adults. I guess I should travel back in time with a copy and read it at fourteen! :)
November 14, 2010
I really liked Audrey Wait, but I decided to abandon this one. I was really disappointed since I was expected to enjoy it as much as Benway's first book. I did give it well over a hundred pages, but I am trying to be okay with not finishing a book just because I started. If I don't care what happens next, why waste my time, right?
April suddenly develops the power to see the future, May can make herself invisible, and June can read minds; but the girls generally come across as so vapid and oddly blase about such abilities popping out of nowhere soon after they move with their mother after a divorce that I could never suspend disbelief. I didn't think their voices were distinct enough, and I just didn't want to hear any more.
On the other hand, my 11-year-old daughter picked up the book when I said I was done with it and devoured it in just a few days, so maybe it just doesn't work for middle-aged teacher-librarians, even ones that try to read smelling of teen spirit. Oh, well.
April suddenly develops the power to see the future, May can make herself invisible, and June can read minds; but the girls generally come across as so vapid and oddly blase about such abilities popping out of nowhere soon after they move with their mother after a divorce that I could never suspend disbelief. I didn't think their voices were distinct enough, and I just didn't want to hear any more.
On the other hand, my 11-year-old daughter picked up the book when I said I was done with it and devoured it in just a few days, so maybe it just doesn't work for middle-aged teacher-librarians, even ones that try to read smelling of teen spirit. Oh, well.
July 6, 2016
I don't really remember when I finished this, just that it wasn't nearly as good as I hoped.
April 26, 2020
3.5 stars. This one is definitely meant for a younger audience. I enjoyed it, but I probably would have LOVED it about 25+ years ago! The most fun was seeing the girls relationship through each of their eyes and, having a sister, I thought it was very accurately portrayed. I also liked that they have superpowers without it turning into some grand "now we must save the world on a weekly basis" type thing.
July 22, 2010
I was super excited when I opened up the envelope from Razorbill and saw this book! I read Audrey, Wait! a few months ago and I LOVED it, so I was excited to read Robin Benway's new novel. I flew through this book. It was so different from Audrey, Wait! but that is a good thing. That means that the author has the ability to write about a variety of subjects.
It was so easy to just dive right into the characters lives and right away I got a feel for dynamics of the family. April, being the oldest, was kind of like the second mother. She was very protective of her sisters, and she was very very controlling of all things in her life. May, the middle sister, slipped into the background. She had the hardest time dealing with her parents divorce, though she never shared that with her sisters. June, the youngest, was the playful of the three. She is the typical young teen girl that wants to be popular and make the most of high school.
I was excited to see how they would discover their powers. I never like books where it is all played up and you go through the "trying to convince everyone that you really the powers" bit. Thankfully, Extraordinary Secrets spared me of that. I will not tell you how the powers are revealed, but it is not all long and played out and you will not get frustrated and want to throw the book. Trust me on that.
Each girl has a power that is very fitting for their role in the family as well. April can see the future, which is perfect for the girl who always needs to be in control. It is much easier to keep a grip on things when nothing surprises you. May can disappear, which is fitting because it is something that has felt like she has been doing her whole life, as the middle child in the family. June can read minds, and to me she just has the perfect personality for that ability. She uses it for good, but she also has the most fun with her gift as well.
I loved the dialogue in this book. It flows very easily and it is never interrupted by "he said" or "she said", and yet you can easily follow along and know who is saying what.
The cover is beautiful. Honestly. if I had never heard of this book and I had walked by it in Barnes and Noble, I would have picked up simply because I love the cover so much.
This novel is fast-paced and easy to read. I felt like I was watching everything take place and not just reading about it. This is a book where I found myself getting personally involved with the characters. When April sees a vision that scares her and she refuses to share it with anyone, I was yelling at her to stop being so controlling. When May starts disappearing more and more and I wanted to be there for her to talk to. When June started pulling away from her sister's to try to be "popular" I wanted to smack her upside the head like I was her sister and tell her to get a grip. Closing the book, I was sad that it was over. I knew I was going to miss those sisters.
It was so easy to just dive right into the characters lives and right away I got a feel for dynamics of the family. April, being the oldest, was kind of like the second mother. She was very protective of her sisters, and she was very very controlling of all things in her life. May, the middle sister, slipped into the background. She had the hardest time dealing with her parents divorce, though she never shared that with her sisters. June, the youngest, was the playful of the three. She is the typical young teen girl that wants to be popular and make the most of high school.
I was excited to see how they would discover their powers. I never like books where it is all played up and you go through the "trying to convince everyone that you really the powers" bit. Thankfully, Extraordinary Secrets spared me of that. I will not tell you how the powers are revealed, but it is not all long and played out and you will not get frustrated and want to throw the book. Trust me on that.
Each girl has a power that is very fitting for their role in the family as well. April can see the future, which is perfect for the girl who always needs to be in control. It is much easier to keep a grip on things when nothing surprises you. May can disappear, which is fitting because it is something that has felt like she has been doing her whole life, as the middle child in the family. June can read minds, and to me she just has the perfect personality for that ability. She uses it for good, but she also has the most fun with her gift as well.
I loved the dialogue in this book. It flows very easily and it is never interrupted by "he said" or "she said", and yet you can easily follow along and know who is saying what.
The cover is beautiful. Honestly. if I had never heard of this book and I had walked by it in Barnes and Noble, I would have picked up simply because I love the cover so much.
This novel is fast-paced and easy to read. I felt like I was watching everything take place and not just reading about it. This is a book where I found myself getting personally involved with the characters. When April sees a vision that scares her and she refuses to share it with anyone, I was yelling at her to stop being so controlling. When May starts disappearing more and more and I wanted to be there for her to talk to. When June started pulling away from her sister's to try to be "popular" I wanted to smack her upside the head like I was her sister and tell her to get a grip. Closing the book, I was sad that it was over. I knew I was going to miss those sisters.
August 17, 2010
For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here -
A Life Bound By Books
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway was a cute, fun, light hearted read with sisters so different from one another that everyone should have no trouble finding one to relate to. From the author who wrote “Audrey Wait” – Benway has taken writing from a teen girl’s point of view to a new level with the addition of superpowers.
One of the great things about reading this book was the fact that each sister was so different and quirky. Told in three very distinctive voices in alternating chapters it wasn’t always clear just which sister was speaking, however after learning more about each they were pretty easy to tell appart. Their personalities so different, yet their powers reflected each one perfectly. April the oldest, bookish and fiercely over protective could see flashes of the future. May the middle child with - what sometimes happens to the middle child - is smart, sassy, snarky and wants nothing more then to be left alone – invisible – gets just that, invisibility. And then the youngest June, wants to be popular, grown up and listened to she gets to hear peoples thoughts. They are each dealing with things within their chapters and Benway does a great job melding them all together into one intertwined story.
The romantic interests were great as were the few other secondary characters that popped up here and there. The boys were a perfect fit to the girls and in the end were some of my favorite characters too. Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to love a feisty character and there were plenty throughout.
The story was somewhat predictable, but in the end I found myself not as invested in the lives of these three sisters as I was hoping to be. Not to say that it’s a bad story, just not what I was expecting. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments and I have to say that May was by far my favorite of the three. She had some of the best lines and I loved her whit and her chapters were highlights that I just couldn’t get enough off.
All in all Benway has created something that will no doubt entertain people. With funny moments laced throughout and a set of sisters who could be the girls next door, it’s easy to see that many readers will find something to love about each of these Extraordinary girls.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway was a cute, fun, light hearted read with sisters so different from one another that everyone should have no trouble finding one to relate to. From the author who wrote “Audrey Wait” – Benway has taken writing from a teen girl’s point of view to a new level with the addition of superpowers.
One of the great things about reading this book was the fact that each sister was so different and quirky. Told in three very distinctive voices in alternating chapters it wasn’t always clear just which sister was speaking, however after learning more about each they were pretty easy to tell appart. Their personalities so different, yet their powers reflected each one perfectly. April the oldest, bookish and fiercely over protective could see flashes of the future. May the middle child with - what sometimes happens to the middle child - is smart, sassy, snarky and wants nothing more then to be left alone – invisible – gets just that, invisibility. And then the youngest June, wants to be popular, grown up and listened to she gets to hear peoples thoughts. They are each dealing with things within their chapters and Benway does a great job melding them all together into one intertwined story.
The romantic interests were great as were the few other secondary characters that popped up here and there. The boys were a perfect fit to the girls and in the end were some of my favorite characters too. Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to love a feisty character and there were plenty throughout.
The story was somewhat predictable, but in the end I found myself not as invested in the lives of these three sisters as I was hoping to be. Not to say that it’s a bad story, just not what I was expecting. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments and I have to say that May was by far my favorite of the three. She had some of the best lines and I loved her whit and her chapters were highlights that I just couldn’t get enough off.
All in all Benway has created something that will no doubt entertain people. With funny moments laced throughout and a set of sisters who could be the girls next door, it’s easy to see that many readers will find something to love about each of these Extraordinary girls.
March 25, 2010
At long last, Robin Benway, author of one of my favorite and most hilarious YA novels, Audrey, Wait!, has come out with her sophomore novel. THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is (what else?) extraordinarily different from her debut novel, but its mixture of witty teen angst, sibling relationships, and magic should still make this a hit with readers of all ages.
The strongest part of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is the witty dialogue that the sisters throw at one another. Think Gilmore Girls without as many pop culture references. Think Bianca’s attitude and tone from 10 Things I Hate About You—on steroids. The wit is nonstop, and if you’re a lover of snark and bite, you’ll get a kick out of the dialogue in this book. The story switches between April, May, and June’s POV, and I appreciated that, while they could all engage in the same frenetic level of verbal sparring, they were all also distinct characters and personalities.
Unfortunately, the verbal jousting can also get petty and overwhelming. Reading the Stephenson sisters’ endless snapping at one another feels a bit too much like watching a married couple fight onscreen—yes, that s**t happens in real life, but no one really wants it to occur nonstop in fiction. Additionally, the wit does not make for the shakiness of the plot, which was slow, with lots of red-herring subplots. A large part of it sought to show readers what life for the sisters was like after they discovered their powers, but that unfortunately also lessened the impact of the foreshadowed climax: I wanted and expected more from such a killer premise. I liked the idea of the magical powers, but I fear it clashed and was eventually defeated and subdued by the hands of the overpowering characters.
Readers who enjoyed the (mostly) harmless but still sharp humor in Audrey, Wait! will certainly get a surprise if they read THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE. It lacks a sound execution, but on the whole, this unique book is a delightful blend of the contemporary and the magic, and readers will be drawn into the lives of these three different but all endearing sisters as their powers change them beyond their wildest imaginations.
The strongest part of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is the witty dialogue that the sisters throw at one another. Think Gilmore Girls without as many pop culture references. Think Bianca’s attitude and tone from 10 Things I Hate About You—on steroids. The wit is nonstop, and if you’re a lover of snark and bite, you’ll get a kick out of the dialogue in this book. The story switches between April, May, and June’s POV, and I appreciated that, while they could all engage in the same frenetic level of verbal sparring, they were all also distinct characters and personalities.
Unfortunately, the verbal jousting can also get petty and overwhelming. Reading the Stephenson sisters’ endless snapping at one another feels a bit too much like watching a married couple fight onscreen—yes, that s**t happens in real life, but no one really wants it to occur nonstop in fiction. Additionally, the wit does not make for the shakiness of the plot, which was slow, with lots of red-herring subplots. A large part of it sought to show readers what life for the sisters was like after they discovered their powers, but that unfortunately also lessened the impact of the foreshadowed climax: I wanted and expected more from such a killer premise. I liked the idea of the magical powers, but I fear it clashed and was eventually defeated and subdued by the hands of the overpowering characters.
Readers who enjoyed the (mostly) harmless but still sharp humor in Audrey, Wait! will certainly get a surprise if they read THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE. It lacks a sound execution, but on the whole, this unique book is a delightful blend of the contemporary and the magic, and readers will be drawn into the lives of these three different but all endearing sisters as their powers change them beyond their wildest imaginations.
March 6, 2010
From a brilliant premise, to spectacular writing, to relatable and witty main characters, there leaves no doubt in my voice when I say that The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June is hands down one of the best books of the year.
Each character is crafted in a way that makes them jump right of the page from the start and became a part of you as you see their story unravel in front of you.
I really liked the fact that each stood on their own with their unique personalities. Since, I hate nothing more but when characters in a book, especially one that jumps from narrator to narrator like The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June, all sound the same. Though that was far from the case in this book. April is the smart one, whoever feels the need to be her sister's protector, even if it sometimes get in the way of her own life, while May is the sarcastic and witty loner that forever has you awed by her charm to turn something normal into being something slyly funny. And June? Well, she's basically a girl who wants nothing more to fit and be part of the popular crowd, though there's more than meets the surface to this girl who seemed a bit selfish at the beginning. All three constantly had me and giggles and relating my own life to theirs.
The premise, as mentioned above, in The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June was brilliant, and the execution was even more so. I loved seeing all three girls come to terms with their powers all while trying to find themselves in the new life they have been given. In turn, it provided a page-turning read that was extremely hard to put down, even for a second.
In all, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June is a book that you should definitely check out this upcoming summer, because I have no worries when saying that I'm sure that you'll love and adore it as much as I did.
And Robin Benway, if you're reading this, I'm really, really looking forward to reading more by you!
Grade: A+
Each character is crafted in a way that makes them jump right of the page from the start and became a part of you as you see their story unravel in front of you.
I really liked the fact that each stood on their own with their unique personalities. Since, I hate nothing more but when characters in a book, especially one that jumps from narrator to narrator like The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June, all sound the same. Though that was far from the case in this book. April is the smart one, whoever feels the need to be her sister's protector, even if it sometimes get in the way of her own life, while May is the sarcastic and witty loner that forever has you awed by her charm to turn something normal into being something slyly funny. And June? Well, she's basically a girl who wants nothing more to fit and be part of the popular crowd, though there's more than meets the surface to this girl who seemed a bit selfish at the beginning. All three constantly had me and giggles and relating my own life to theirs.
The premise, as mentioned above, in The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June was brilliant, and the execution was even more so. I loved seeing all three girls come to terms with their powers all while trying to find themselves in the new life they have been given. In turn, it provided a page-turning read that was extremely hard to put down, even for a second.
In all, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June is a book that you should definitely check out this upcoming summer, because I have no worries when saying that I'm sure that you'll love and adore it as much as I did.
And Robin Benway, if you're reading this, I'm really, really looking forward to reading more by you!
Grade: A+
November 18, 2010
Three sisters one year apart who find out they have powers. Very funny, sarcastic, and kind of sweet. Good thing Benway distinguished the perspective of each sister so it didn't feel like the same person with different names.
The Sisters:
April is the oldest so is of course the responsible one who seems to be such a stickler, has a tendency to be bossy, and feels responsible about everything. Her power is seeing the future. May is next and she is a loner, a hermit if she didn't have to go to school; surprisingly she is very sensitive. Being the middle child it's no surprise she has the power of invisibility. June the caboose is superficial and no one listens to her. She wants to be popular and uses her new power of mind-reading to achieve this.
The Sisterly Bond:
I think it was believable. Being part of a trio of girls I have to say some of the dynamics are not all the same however there were a few things that I thought hit the nail on the head. It was funny and frustrating to see them in action (arguing that is). All sisters have their annoying habits but that is made up for with all the funny parts that this book has. I must've laughed every chapter.
The Plot:
It's basically the girls dealing with their new powers and the fact that their parents are now divorced. The superpowers put the girls in sometimes awkward (and funny) situations. Their parents being divorced gives their story more substance. The climax wasn't bad just not to the height I was hoping for, with all the buildup I thought it would be pivotal; especially after April kept mentioning the 'red light' the lights of an ambulance or something.
Caution to those who might care: There is some teen drinking, and swearing.
The Sisters:
April is the oldest so is of course the responsible one who seems to be such a stickler, has a tendency to be bossy, and feels responsible about everything. Her power is seeing the future. May is next and she is a loner, a hermit if she didn't have to go to school; surprisingly she is very sensitive. Being the middle child it's no surprise she has the power of invisibility. June the caboose is superficial and no one listens to her. She wants to be popular and uses her new power of mind-reading to achieve this.
The Sisterly Bond:
I think it was believable. Being part of a trio of girls I have to say some of the dynamics are not all the same however there were a few things that I thought hit the nail on the head. It was funny and frustrating to see them in action (arguing that is). All sisters have their annoying habits but that is made up for with all the funny parts that this book has. I must've laughed every chapter.
The Plot:
It's basically the girls dealing with their new powers and the fact that their parents are now divorced. The superpowers put the girls in sometimes awkward (and funny) situations. Their parents being divorced gives their story more substance. The climax wasn't bad just not to the height I was hoping for, with all the buildup I thought it would be pivotal; especially after April kept mentioning the 'red light' the lights of an ambulance or something.
Caution to those who might care: There is some teen drinking, and swearing.
July 30, 2011
Definitely a great summer read!
I haven't heard many things about this book but when I read the summary, I thought to give it a try and I'm pleased I did. I really enjoyed this book, I laughed out loud many times over the banter between the three sisters. There was a mix between humor and serious issues, I think it's great for teen girls to read. These girls are who they are and they don't change for anyone.
The writing was really good and flowed nicely. The humor was tasteful and there was good mix of seriousness that really made me feel for the characters, especially May. I love that the author actually took the time to think about the characters and what powers they would have. April is the first-born and a planner so she could see the future, May falls back in the crowd and a little awkward so she could become invisible, and June wants everyone to like her and she can read minds to conform herself to what others want.
The ending was good too, I liked the lesson. I'm also relieved it isn't a sequel...seems like all books are a series these days! If you're looking for a fast and fun summer read, this one is for you.
I haven't heard many things about this book but when I read the summary, I thought to give it a try and I'm pleased I did. I really enjoyed this book, I laughed out loud many times over the banter between the three sisters. There was a mix between humor and serious issues, I think it's great for teen girls to read. These girls are who they are and they don't change for anyone.
The writing was really good and flowed nicely. The humor was tasteful and there was good mix of seriousness that really made me feel for the characters, especially May. I love that the author actually took the time to think about the characters and what powers they would have. April is the first-born and a planner so she could see the future, May falls back in the crowd and a little awkward so she could become invisible, and June wants everyone to like her and she can read minds to conform herself to what others want.
The ending was good too, I liked the lesson. I'm also relieved it isn't a sequel...seems like all books are a series these days! If you're looking for a fast and fun summer read, this one is for you.
March 15, 2010
First, I LOVE THIS COVER. Love it. Before I even knew what it was about or read anything about it at all, I loved the cover. Once I actually got to see it in person, I had to start reading it right away because I loved the cover so much.
Now that I am done reading it, I can also say I LOVE THIS BOOK! The title "The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June" very accurately describes what the book is about, and much to my pleasant surprise the book is split up by chapter - one chapter written by April, one by May, and one by June, in a rotation.
Each of their voices was so clear and distinct I didn't have to read "May said" or "June exclaimed" to know who had said it. The banter between the characters was quick and witty - some of the most realistic dialogue I have read in a long time.
The "secrets" of the sisters weren't used in a cliche or too powerful way, either. This allowed me to enjoy the plot a lot more, knowing one of them wasn't going to swoop in and solve everything just because of their extra powers.
This is my favorite book of 2010, by far.
Now that I am done reading it, I can also say I LOVE THIS BOOK! The title "The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June" very accurately describes what the book is about, and much to my pleasant surprise the book is split up by chapter - one chapter written by April, one by May, and one by June, in a rotation.
Each of their voices was so clear and distinct I didn't have to read "May said" or "June exclaimed" to know who had said it. The banter between the characters was quick and witty - some of the most realistic dialogue I have read in a long time.
The "secrets" of the sisters weren't used in a cliche or too powerful way, either. This allowed me to enjoy the plot a lot more, knowing one of them wasn't going to swoop in and solve everything just because of their extra powers.
This is my favorite book of 2010, by far.
February 7, 2017
THE CUTE. That is what this book is. So freaking adorable. I’ve read one Robin Benway book before this, but I tried the audio, and I feel like the adorbs did not translate quite as well to the audiobook format. Anyway, I totally understand why people want Benway books with their cuteness. Also, I totally will use the words cute and adorable until they cease having any meaning throughout the course of this review, so deal with it. Honestly, it’s Robin Benway’s fault, because all I can say is CUTE CUTE CUTE.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
November 8, 2014
Wow! What a book. First I read it in less than a day. IT was the type of book that sucks you in and you don't want to ever put down! The book was very well written, with characters that if you personally couldn't relate to, you at least know someone that you can relate them to.
3 sisters, extremely different, yet they share this one major secret. Reading how they grow to not only control themselves, but to love each other more, and to open up to those in their lives. It gave me good feelings.
I would honestly love to see this as a trilogy, at least. I would love to continue reading about these sisters and the adventures that they would have, together and apart. I felt very connected to them.
3 sisters, extremely different, yet they share this one major secret. Reading how they grow to not only control themselves, but to love each other more, and to open up to those in their lives. It gave me good feelings.
I would honestly love to see this as a trilogy, at least. I would love to continue reading about these sisters and the adventures that they would have, together and apart. I felt very connected to them.
April 30, 2018
So I have liked a lot of Robin Benway's books in the past and I really liked the premise of this one, but it just falls short.
The premise: Three sisters gain psychic superpowers and life and shenanigans ensue.
I do like the different povs and I think the voices are distinct.
Here's the main problem: April, May and June are 3 teenage sisters starting at a new high school and going through some heavy home life sh*t. They fight and bicker as teenage sisters do. AND IT"S PRETTY ANNOYING TO READ THAT. The characters sounded too much like believable teenagers and I didn't care for them at all. There was some depth but not a lot. There was A LOT of dialogue and it was like reading a transcript of 3 people constantly talking over each other. UGH.
Julian was my fav. And Henry wasn't too bad although he and May had a weird thing going on that was kinda InstaLove.
Another big problem was the ending. It just is like all of the sudden that's the end. I feel like nothing was concluded. Like maybe 1 thing was concluded but there are a ton of other plot points left dangling. And not in a good it makes you think kind of way. Maybe it's me, and I didn't like it bc it was more of a feelings arc and not an action arc but still there are a ton of things set up and not resolved.
Minor spoilers ahead that I'm not bothering to put under a cut.
So like what's the deal with AVERY. She is in SO many scenes. Literally all the scenes. And it's setting up for her to play a major part, but then like NOTHING! I'm willing to bet that like 2 weeks after the book ends she commits suicide and the girls could have stopped it but didn't.
Also, what's up with their Grandma and her sisters.
Anyway, don't really recommend. read something else by Benway instead.
The premise: Three sisters gain psychic superpowers and life and shenanigans ensue.
I do like the different povs and I think the voices are distinct.
Here's the main problem: April, May and June are 3 teenage sisters starting at a new high school and going through some heavy home life sh*t. They fight and bicker as teenage sisters do. AND IT"S PRETTY ANNOYING TO READ THAT. The characters sounded too much like believable teenagers and I didn't care for them at all. There was some depth but not a lot. There was A LOT of dialogue and it was like reading a transcript of 3 people constantly talking over each other. UGH.
Julian was my fav. And Henry wasn't too bad although he and May had a weird thing going on that was kinda InstaLove.
Another big problem was the ending. It just is like all of the sudden that's the end. I feel like nothing was concluded. Like maybe 1 thing was concluded but there are a ton of other plot points left dangling. And not in a good it makes you think kind of way. Maybe it's me, and I didn't like it bc it was more of a feelings arc and not an action arc but still there are a ton of things set up and not resolved.
Minor spoilers ahead that I'm not bothering to put under a cut.
So like what's the deal with AVERY. She is in SO many scenes. Literally all the scenes. And it's setting up for her to play a major part, but then like NOTHING! I'm willing to bet that like 2 weeks after the book ends she commits suicide and the girls could have stopped it but didn't.
Also, what's up with their Grandma and her sisters.
Anyway, don't really recommend. read something else by Benway instead.
January 25, 2018
"April, May, & June" by Robin Benway first intrigued me by the title. Three girls that have names that are months in ascending order? Awesome. The title led me to continue reading and later turned out to be an exceptional book. In summary, April, May, and June share the magical bond of sisterhood. As many of their stresses come in to view, each sister uncovers a strange ability. Throughout the book conflict centers around boys, school, popularity and the urge to "fit in" at their new high school.
Personally, i thought this book was fresh, funny, and magical. One aspect I enjoyed was Benway's use of characterization throughout the book. The story is told in rotating chapters, each sister taking the role as narrator. The experiences the girls go through allow the reader to keep guessing on what is going to happen in the future. Benway used great characterization to create a unique and different profile for each sister. An example of her exceptional characterization skills is evolved in the youngest sister, June. Throughout the story June states how she "is going to be popular" (Benway, 5), but as the book goes on to tell, June realizes that being popular and having the best clothes isn't all that it seems. Benway's use of characterization also added emotion to the story.
One aspect that Benway could have improved upon was more use of sophisticated language. Although the book is meant to be read by kids, and teens, i feel that Benway could have added more intriguing words to the already impressive book. If Benway had done this, I would assume that more young adults would be attracted to this book rather than younger children.
Overall the book was well written. I enjoyed Benway's use of characterization throughout the story. I highly recommend this book as it will keep readers laughing as each sibling learns to trust another amazing power- the power of sisterhood.
Personally, i thought this book was fresh, funny, and magical. One aspect I enjoyed was Benway's use of characterization throughout the book. The story is told in rotating chapters, each sister taking the role as narrator. The experiences the girls go through allow the reader to keep guessing on what is going to happen in the future. Benway used great characterization to create a unique and different profile for each sister. An example of her exceptional characterization skills is evolved in the youngest sister, June. Throughout the story June states how she "is going to be popular" (Benway, 5), but as the book goes on to tell, June realizes that being popular and having the best clothes isn't all that it seems. Benway's use of characterization also added emotion to the story.
One aspect that Benway could have improved upon was more use of sophisticated language. Although the book is meant to be read by kids, and teens, i feel that Benway could have added more intriguing words to the already impressive book. If Benway had done this, I would assume that more young adults would be attracted to this book rather than younger children.
Overall the book was well written. I enjoyed Benway's use of characterization throughout the story. I highly recommend this book as it will keep readers laughing as each sibling learns to trust another amazing power- the power of sisterhood.
April 2, 2010
I do not know how to write this review. I don't know what to say about this book because, honestly, this is just one of those books that speaks for itself.
Robin Benway's writing is funny and honest, fresh and unique. Every sentence is witty and hilarious, all of her characters layered and dynamic. The story is always moving, hundreds of different stories all playing out at once.
She has a gift, much like the three sisters this book is about.
In Audrey, Wait!, Robin's first book, she burst on to the YA scene quickly and effectively with her hilarious book about a girl who made mistakes and had to learn from them. I loved that book. It was funny and sad, Audrey always searching for the light in the darkness.
I had high expectations for this book, for many reasons. The title, the cover, everything about this book was exciting. August, the month this book is going to be released, seemed so far away. But then, because of this brilliant girl, the wait was over.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June is about three sisters, three girls, all different and the same and bound by something much deeper than the bloodline that connects them. They are each a year apart, each with their own seperate and distinct personalities, and each with their own voices.
Each of them stand on their own, in the world, with their fierce opinions and views. And now, in a new town, going to a new school, its more important than ever that they stick together.
But, over the course of the next few months, they just may fall apart.
April, the oldest, is the smart sister. She is wise and stubborn and protective and overbearing. She can see the future.
May, the middle sister, is the wild child. She is free-spirited and feisty and weak and the most sensitive of the three sisters. She can disappear.
June, the youngest, is the good girl. She only wants to fit in and make friends and just be happy, live the typical high-school life. She can read minds.
At first, these powers seem like they were sent from God to help these sisters protect the people around them, but they will soon learn that these powers were sent from God so these girls can protect themselves.
April is a junior in high school. When she meets Julian, the first thing she sees are the visions. She sees Julian holding her hand in the movie theatre, kissing her. She sees Julian and her together, together. She sees all of these things and they scare her. But what scares her the most is when she sees Julian with the red light on his face, standing next to June.
She decides to stay away from him. She doesn't realize how difficult this is going to be.
May is a sophomore. She is the reason that her family had to move to this new town in California, to this new school. She isn't the only reason, but she's one of the reasons. One night and a few mistakes and they had to go, and now she just doesn't want to be a part of anything.
She used to be good at history. She isn't anymore.
And that's where Henry, or Mr. Stanford, comes in.
June is a freshman. Now that she can read minds, she hears everyone. When she is having a conversation with someone, she can only hear what is going through their heads. When she is sitting in class, she hears what the teacher is thinking instead of what they are saying.
This gift that June has is the reason why she becomes friends with Mariah, the most popular girl in the sophomore class. She uses her ability to read Mariah's "friends"' minds, and then she tells her what they really think of her.
They quickly grow closer.
The book builds and builds, climbing towards the climax that you know is coming, that you don't expect at all.
Eventually April stops running from Julian and finally lets him in, but she is hesitant and scared and can't seem to bring herself to let herself go.
May and Henry, her Stanford-obsessed tutor, have a hot and cold relationship almost all of the book, but it is obvious they have feelings for each other.
June and Mariah become best friends, spending all of their time together and also with Blake, Mariah's older boyfriend. And he makes June uncomfortable. But it's worth it, because she wants to be Mariah's friend.
It is worth it, right?
April keeps having her visions of that night and May keeps disappearing and June just tries to keep her head up and make her way through high school. The book follows these girls to dates and parties and, finally, to that night.
I won't tell you anything about it. The whole book, you only learn little pieces of it, the little pieces that April sees. She tries to conceal it in her mind so June won't realize what's going on, and she tells May to do the same.
But I will tell you that that night changes everything. These girls realize how strong their powers really are, how strong they are as sisters. But which power are we talking about- magic, or sisterhood?
There were so many things I loved about this book. I loved the dialogue and the suspense, the plot and the characters. The first few chapters were slightly dull, but that's only because I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I was expecting something great, though, and that's definately what I got.
The thing I loved the most about this book is that, really, it isn't a paranormal book at all. These girls have paranormal powers, ones you can call magical and otherworldly. But this book isn't about that at all. It is only another plot line, just another way to show the strength that family really has in our lives, the impact. It is a metaphor, and one that works perfectly.
This book had everything I appreciated about Audrey, Wait!, and so much more. Robin Benway is a great writer and also one of the sweetest women I have ever (briefly) talked to. I can't wait to read all of her future books and I also can't wait to hear what all of you think of it.
Though this book doesn't come out until August, I suggest pre-ordering it now. Find a book tour, or request an ARC, or just do something. Get your hands on this book. You will not regret it.
A
Robin Benway's writing is funny and honest, fresh and unique. Every sentence is witty and hilarious, all of her characters layered and dynamic. The story is always moving, hundreds of different stories all playing out at once.
She has a gift, much like the three sisters this book is about.
In Audrey, Wait!, Robin's first book, she burst on to the YA scene quickly and effectively with her hilarious book about a girl who made mistakes and had to learn from them. I loved that book. It was funny and sad, Audrey always searching for the light in the darkness.
I had high expectations for this book, for many reasons. The title, the cover, everything about this book was exciting. August, the month this book is going to be released, seemed so far away. But then, because of this brilliant girl, the wait was over.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June is about three sisters, three girls, all different and the same and bound by something much deeper than the bloodline that connects them. They are each a year apart, each with their own seperate and distinct personalities, and each with their own voices.
Each of them stand on their own, in the world, with their fierce opinions and views. And now, in a new town, going to a new school, its more important than ever that they stick together.
But, over the course of the next few months, they just may fall apart.
April, the oldest, is the smart sister. She is wise and stubborn and protective and overbearing. She can see the future.
May, the middle sister, is the wild child. She is free-spirited and feisty and weak and the most sensitive of the three sisters. She can disappear.
June, the youngest, is the good girl. She only wants to fit in and make friends and just be happy, live the typical high-school life. She can read minds.
At first, these powers seem like they were sent from God to help these sisters protect the people around them, but they will soon learn that these powers were sent from God so these girls can protect themselves.
April is a junior in high school. When she meets Julian, the first thing she sees are the visions. She sees Julian holding her hand in the movie theatre, kissing her. She sees Julian and her together, together. She sees all of these things and they scare her. But what scares her the most is when she sees Julian with the red light on his face, standing next to June.
She decides to stay away from him. She doesn't realize how difficult this is going to be.
May is a sophomore. She is the reason that her family had to move to this new town in California, to this new school. She isn't the only reason, but she's one of the reasons. One night and a few mistakes and they had to go, and now she just doesn't want to be a part of anything.
She used to be good at history. She isn't anymore.
And that's where Henry, or Mr. Stanford, comes in.
June is a freshman. Now that she can read minds, she hears everyone. When she is having a conversation with someone, she can only hear what is going through their heads. When she is sitting in class, she hears what the teacher is thinking instead of what they are saying.
This gift that June has is the reason why she becomes friends with Mariah, the most popular girl in the sophomore class. She uses her ability to read Mariah's "friends"' minds, and then she tells her what they really think of her.
They quickly grow closer.
The book builds and builds, climbing towards the climax that you know is coming, that you don't expect at all.
Eventually April stops running from Julian and finally lets him in, but she is hesitant and scared and can't seem to bring herself to let herself go.
May and Henry, her Stanford-obsessed tutor, have a hot and cold relationship almost all of the book, but it is obvious they have feelings for each other.
June and Mariah become best friends, spending all of their time together and also with Blake, Mariah's older boyfriend. And he makes June uncomfortable. But it's worth it, because she wants to be Mariah's friend.
It is worth it, right?
April keeps having her visions of that night and May keeps disappearing and June just tries to keep her head up and make her way through high school. The book follows these girls to dates and parties and, finally, to that night.
I won't tell you anything about it. The whole book, you only learn little pieces of it, the little pieces that April sees. She tries to conceal it in her mind so June won't realize what's going on, and she tells May to do the same.
But I will tell you that that night changes everything. These girls realize how strong their powers really are, how strong they are as sisters. But which power are we talking about- magic, or sisterhood?
There were so many things I loved about this book. I loved the dialogue and the suspense, the plot and the characters. The first few chapters were slightly dull, but that's only because I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I was expecting something great, though, and that's definately what I got.
The thing I loved the most about this book is that, really, it isn't a paranormal book at all. These girls have paranormal powers, ones you can call magical and otherworldly. But this book isn't about that at all. It is only another plot line, just another way to show the strength that family really has in our lives, the impact. It is a metaphor, and one that works perfectly.
This book had everything I appreciated about Audrey, Wait!, and so much more. Robin Benway is a great writer and also one of the sweetest women I have ever (briefly) talked to. I can't wait to read all of her future books and I also can't wait to hear what all of you think of it.
Though this book doesn't come out until August, I suggest pre-ordering it now. Find a book tour, or request an ARC, or just do something. Get your hands on this book. You will not regret it.
A
June 6, 2018
Un bon roman jeunesse simple et adorable 😊
September 13, 2022
This was one of my favourites in elementary school! Popped into my head today randomly ♥️
August 1, 2012
Original post at One More Page
I don't have a biological sister, so I don't know how it feels to have one (I do have a very awesome sister-in-law, but that's for another post), so I often live vicariously with books with sisters. When I first heard of The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway, I wanted to read it not only because I really enjoyed her other novel, Audrey, Wait! , but because of the magic realism and the sisterhood angle. I figure it's a fun novel with all those elements, right?
Sisters April, May and June share more than a last name -- on their first day of school in a new town, the three sisters discover that they have some kind of powers: April can predict the future, May can disappear and June can read everyone's minds. They all freak out on their own terms when they discovered this, but they have to pull themselves together when April gets a vision of a disaster that she doesn't know how to stop. But with their constant bickering and wishes and selfishness, will they be able to do that?
I was looking for fun, and yes, I wasn't disappointed! I really liked The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June with all its cute quirks. The three-person narration was interesting, and I was glad to see that the voices of the characters were totally different and easily distinguishable. I saw a bit of myself in each of the sisters, but mostly in April because even if I am the youngest in the family, I tend to have that "mother hen" instinct for people I care for. I kind of liked June the least, but she did kind of win me over in the end. I liked their sister dynamics, and I bet that if I had a sister close to my age, we would probably bicker like that.
However, there seemed to be too much bickering in some of the parts that it made me a bit exhausted. I kind of missed the wit and lines that was in Audrey, Wait!, and instead, there was more dialogue of bickering rather than descriptions of scenes. I guess it's part of having three narrators, but reading the fighting and arguments and doors slamming for several pages was just kind of tiring to read.
But I really did like how the sisterhood "magic" factored in the story. I liked the brief idea of a history behind their powers (and I wished it was explored more!), and I liked how despite there were some romance in the story, it didn't take the spotlight (that much, anyway) over April, May and June's relationship as sisters. The ending was just right, and it made me shed a few tears when things finally went down.
I liked this book. Maybe not as much as Robin Benway's debut, but I like this enough to watch out for her other books and put her in my contemporary YA to-read list. If you're looking for a feel-good, quick-read book with a lot of heart, or if you have sisters, then I hope you will enjoy The Extraordinary Secrets of April May and June as much as I did. :)
I don't have a biological sister, so I don't know how it feels to have one (I do have a very awesome sister-in-law, but that's for another post), so I often live vicariously with books with sisters. When I first heard of The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway, I wanted to read it not only because I really enjoyed her other novel, Audrey, Wait! , but because of the magic realism and the sisterhood angle. I figure it's a fun novel with all those elements, right?
Sisters April, May and June share more than a last name -- on their first day of school in a new town, the three sisters discover that they have some kind of powers: April can predict the future, May can disappear and June can read everyone's minds. They all freak out on their own terms when they discovered this, but they have to pull themselves together when April gets a vision of a disaster that she doesn't know how to stop. But with their constant bickering and wishes and selfishness, will they be able to do that?
I was looking for fun, and yes, I wasn't disappointed! I really liked The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June with all its cute quirks. The three-person narration was interesting, and I was glad to see that the voices of the characters were totally different and easily distinguishable. I saw a bit of myself in each of the sisters, but mostly in April because even if I am the youngest in the family, I tend to have that "mother hen" instinct for people I care for. I kind of liked June the least, but she did kind of win me over in the end. I liked their sister dynamics, and I bet that if I had a sister close to my age, we would probably bicker like that.
However, there seemed to be too much bickering in some of the parts that it made me a bit exhausted. I kind of missed the wit and lines that was in Audrey, Wait!, and instead, there was more dialogue of bickering rather than descriptions of scenes. I guess it's part of having three narrators, but reading the fighting and arguments and doors slamming for several pages was just kind of tiring to read.
But I really did like how the sisterhood "magic" factored in the story. I liked the brief idea of a history behind their powers (and I wished it was explored more!), and I liked how despite there were some romance in the story, it didn't take the spotlight (that much, anyway) over April, May and June's relationship as sisters. The ending was just right, and it made me shed a few tears when things finally went down.
I liked this book. Maybe not as much as Robin Benway's debut, but I like this enough to watch out for her other books and put her in my contemporary YA to-read list. If you're looking for a feel-good, quick-read book with a lot of heart, or if you have sisters, then I hope you will enjoy The Extraordinary Secrets of April May and June as much as I did. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 523 reviews