From School Library Journal
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Gr 4-7-In this installment in the series, Mass continues to
weave reality with fantasy, action, and plot twists to draw
readers into her story. The Last Present pairs 13-year-old best
friends, Amanda and Leo, to unravel the mystery of why
10-year-old Grace has become catatonic following their friend
David's bar mitzvah. While visiting Grace, Angelina D'Angelo
appears as her nurse, and the friends know that the mysterious
old woman with special powers is involved. Amanda and Leo are
instructed to journey to the past, specifically to Grace's
previous birthday parties, to undo a curse that has befallen her.
But, do they have enough information to reverse it? Angelina has
a habit of leaving out important pieces of a story in order to
get her way. With the help of their friends, Amanda and Leo are
up to the challenge and begin their time-travel adventure. Woven
seamlessly into this fantasy are the realistic issues that tweens
encounter. Young love, sibling rivalry, and embarrassing parents
are as much a part of this adventure as the time travel. Although
part of a series, The Last Present can stand on its own, but
readers will want to find the earlier titles once they have
visited Willow Falls.-Annette ert, F. E. Smith Elementary
School, Cortland, NYα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
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From Booklist ( /gp/feature.html/?docId=1000027801 )
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Amanda and Leo step into the spotlight again, but soon
Grace, a friend’s younger sister, falls into a trancelike state.
Angelina sends Amanda and Leo back in time to make subtle changes
on Grace’s birthdays, but as they learn more about the elderly,
magical woman, they begin to doubt their mission. Readers will
enjoy catching up with their favorite characters from previous
books as much as following the current adventure and the ongoing
mystery. In the end, there is a sense of closure, at least for
the Angelina story line. Still, a new, magically gifted character
could mean more adventures in the River Falls series. Grades 4-7.
--Carolyn Phelan
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Review
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Praise for 13 Gifts
*"Mass keeps the plot jumping like a fireworks display; there's
one surprise spark after another, all coming together at the end
for a breathtaking finale." -School Library Journal, starred
review
"In equal parts philosophical and wryly humorous, this magical
tale will satisfy both fans and new readers alike." -Kirkus
Praise for Finally
"Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the
face of her many mishaps are heartwarming." -Publishers Weekly
"Growing up doesn't have to happen all at once, and it isn't
always all it's cracked up to be . . . Mass provides a pretty
entertaining and solidly worthwhile read." -Kirkus
Praise for 11 Birthdays
*"From the double-entendre title to the solid character
portrayals to the clarity and wit of the writing, this novel
offers a fresh twist on the familiar themes of middle-grade
family and school dynamics." -Booklist, starred review
*"Mass's expertise with pacing keeps the story moving at a
lively clip, and her understanding of this age group is as finely
honed as ever." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
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From the Author
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Wendy Mass is the author of the award-winning books for readers A
MANGO-SHAPED SPACE, LEAP DAY, JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF
LIFE, HEAVEN LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE MALL, EVERY SOUL A STAR, THE
CANDYMAKERS, 11 BIRTHDAYS, FINALLY, and the Twice Upon a Time
series. She tells people her hobbies are photography and hiking,
but they're really collecting candy bar wrappers and searching
for buried treasure with her metal detector. Wendy lives with her
family in New Jersey. Visit her at www.wendymass.com.
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About the Author
----------------
Wendy Mass is the author of the award-winning books for readers A
MANGO-SHAPED SPACE, LEAP DAY, JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF
LIFE, HEAVEN LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE MALL, EVERY SOUL A STAR, THE
CANDYMAKERS, 11 BIRTHDAYS, FINALLY, and the Twice Upon a Time
series. She tells people her hobbies are photography and hiking,
but they're really collecting candy bar wrappers and searching
for buried treasure with her metal detector. Wendy lives with her
family in New Jersey. Visit her at www.wendymass.com.
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