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A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory:
Eight-year-old Mandy Berr is spirited, sassy, and determined to shine—even if she’s not the center of attention!
After learning the hard way that polka dot underwear and white pants are not the best combination, Mandy Berr has gotten over that fashion faux pas, and has (almost) recovered from not being named George Washington in the recent Presidential Pageant.
But just when things seem like they might be back in her favor, her former nemesis, Natalie, manages to steal Mandy’s spotlight—again. A broken wrist for Natalie means a cool cast and the attention of Mandy’s classmates…even from Anya, Mandy’s BFF.
Can Mandy figure out a way to get back into the center of attention, win back her best friend, AND snag a pair of fancy-dancy periwinkle sunglasses?
After learning the hard way that polka dot underwear and white pants are not the best combination, Mandy Berr has gotten over that fashion faux pas, and has (almost) recovered from not being named George Washington in the recent Presidential Pageant.
But just when things seem like they might be back in her favor, her former nemesis, Natalie, manages to steal Mandy’s spotlight—again. A broken wrist for Natalie means a cool cast and the attention of Mandy’s classmates…even from Anya, Mandy’s BFF.
Can Mandy figure out a way to get back into the center of attention, win back her best friend, AND snag a pair of fancy-dancy periwinkle sunglasses?
- GenresChildrens
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2014
9 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 16, 2014
Another great book in this series. You can't help but root for Mandy, who is just trying to get it right. Allison Gutknecht has a rare talent for capturing the mind of an eight-year-old girl. I'm off to buy the next book in this series right now!
August 29, 2014
This and Don't Wear Polka-Dot Underwear with White Pants had big cover appeal for me but the main character was such a pain I can't recommend it to patrons. It'll be interesting to see how it circs.
March 28, 2022
I think this book was overall pretty cute, but it degraded the thoughts of eight-year-olds. They act very immature, and I feel as though Anya and Natalie were bad characters. Overall I felt that this book was lacking something, and I felt like the words were just sitting on the page, with little joy or excitement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2018
Review from my 7 year old
I really like this book it is really funny
I really like this book it is really funny
October 6, 2019
She really wanted a cast because her enemy had one so she broke her toe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2016
Eight-year-old Mandy Berr loves to be the center of attention, so naturally she finds it annoying when all of her classmates - including her best friend, Anya - become focused on Natalie, a girl in the class who has broken her arm. Though Mandy is asked to be Natalie’s helper, she doesn’t take the job seriously, and instead keeps looking for ways to put herself in the spotlight. Things only get worse when Anya becomes Natalie’s buddy instead, and Mandy is shut out altogether.
Mandy is one of those chapter book characters, like Junie B. Jones, Amber Brown, and Dessert Schneider, who walks a very fine line between endearing and annoying. Mandy is jealous, controlling, and sometimes downright bratty, and there are moments in this book where the reader feels almost ready to give up on her. I think what saves her is the fact that a lot of kids feel as she does. Kids are naturally fascinated with broken bones, just like Mandy is. Kids tend to be very territorial when it comes to their best friends, and sometimes exclusionary when they make a new friend and want to spend all their time with just that one person. Kids will recognize the power struggles in Mandy’s life, at school and at home, and they will realize, hopefully, as Mandy’s teacher does, that Mandy is having a bad week, and that she isn’t always like this.
This book really grew on me as it went on, and I’m really glad I stuck with it to the end. Though Mandy sounds a lot like other chapter book protagonists, her voice is a strong one that draws the reader in, almost as though she is engaging the reader in conversation. Her complaints about her family and her classmates might not be 100% true to real-life experiences, but they work well in fiction and will be familiar and comfortable to kids who have read similar books. I thought it was too bad that her Dad is portrayed as a clueless babysitter, but that is the only real problem I had with the story. I actually think the author tackles the subject of jealousy in a much more convincing way than other authors have done (see: Three’s Company, Mallory!). I also like the way she lets the reader know in subtle ways, through the reactions of supporting characters. that Mandy’s behavior is undesirable, even though Mandy herself doesn’t realize it until the very end of the book. This should particularly satisfy parents who worry when books seem to promote bratty behavior.
A Cast is the Perfect Accessory is a great transitional book for kids who are almost ready for middle grade fiction, but still prefer illustrations and shorter chapters. Recommend it alongside the Allie Finkle, Just Grace, Mallory McDonald, and Starring Jules series .
Mandy is one of those chapter book characters, like Junie B. Jones, Amber Brown, and Dessert Schneider, who walks a very fine line between endearing and annoying. Mandy is jealous, controlling, and sometimes downright bratty, and there are moments in this book where the reader feels almost ready to give up on her. I think what saves her is the fact that a lot of kids feel as she does. Kids are naturally fascinated with broken bones, just like Mandy is. Kids tend to be very territorial when it comes to their best friends, and sometimes exclusionary when they make a new friend and want to spend all their time with just that one person. Kids will recognize the power struggles in Mandy’s life, at school and at home, and they will realize, hopefully, as Mandy’s teacher does, that Mandy is having a bad week, and that she isn’t always like this.
This book really grew on me as it went on, and I’m really glad I stuck with it to the end. Though Mandy sounds a lot like other chapter book protagonists, her voice is a strong one that draws the reader in, almost as though she is engaging the reader in conversation. Her complaints about her family and her classmates might not be 100% true to real-life experiences, but they work well in fiction and will be familiar and comfortable to kids who have read similar books. I thought it was too bad that her Dad is portrayed as a clueless babysitter, but that is the only real problem I had with the story. I actually think the author tackles the subject of jealousy in a much more convincing way than other authors have done (see: Three’s Company, Mallory!). I also like the way she lets the reader know in subtle ways, through the reactions of supporting characters. that Mandy’s behavior is undesirable, even though Mandy herself doesn’t realize it until the very end of the book. This should particularly satisfy parents who worry when books seem to promote bratty behavior.
A Cast is the Perfect Accessory is a great transitional book for kids who are almost ready for middle grade fiction, but still prefer illustrations and shorter chapters. Recommend it alongside the Allie Finkle, Just Grace, Mallory McDonald, and Starring Jules series .
November 13, 2013
I was hoping that Mandy would show some growth from her first book, but no, this B-R-A-T is as loud and obnoxious as ever. Honestly, Mandy makes Junie B. Junes look like a sainted child. I'm sure there are kids and other people out there who enjoy reading about rotten characters, but I'm not one of them. It hardly even seems like teachable moments, either, because though Mandy mentions being sent to her room or being bereft of her favorite TV show, it never really feels like she's being punished. Some of Mandy's behavior would have earned her a trip to the principal's office in any school I ever attended.
April 9, 2015
Fun read with my 9 year old.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews