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From School Library Journal --------------------------- 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. Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) From Booklist ( /gp/feature.html/?docId=1000027801 ) ---------------------------------------------------- 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 Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ 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 Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) From 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. Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) 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. Read more ( javascript:void(0) )