The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters

Description

In the spirit of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters will captivate middle-grade readers looking for humor, hijinks, and a swashbuckling good time. Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. Together, they patiently await the return of their parents, who left on an errand years ago and have never returned. One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They're unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their parents. With whimsical illustrations and Roald Dahl-esque wit, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters is the visually stunning, laugh-out-loud funny start to a new series for readers who are looking for an anything-but-bland adventure.

Kara LaReau was an editor at Candlewick Press prior to becoming a full-time writer. She has published many acclaimed picture books for children including Ugly Fish, Rabbit & Squirrel, and Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars. Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her husband and son and their two cats.

"Filled with puns, intrigue, and ample evidence that women make excellent--and ruthless--pirates, it's a promising introduction to the Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters series."-- "Publishers Weekly" "LaReau serves her humor dry, adding some serious swashbuckling for good measure...Meanwhile Hill's pen-and-ink cartoons give the book precisely the right strange and silly tone."-- "Kirkus" "Plenty of references to booty and poop decks make for easy humor, while more subtle comedy comes from the deadpan third-person narration."-- "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books" "Replete with puns, gags, and life lessons, this transgressive voyage may "ketch" fans of envelope pushers like Barry Yourgrau, Alan Katz, or Roald Dahl."-- "Booklist" "With dry humor and a touch of snark, this first book of a new series is a smart choice for readers who have mastered Bink & Gollie but aren't quite ready for Lemony Snicket."-- "School Library Connection"