The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

For seven years, bad luck has followed Ivy around like a dog on a leash. Her father disappeared, her mother is a washed–up beauty–pageant winner, and now Viola and her mother have moved into a raqmshackle house on Gumm Street. Ivy's new neighbors–bookish Pru, stuck–up Cat, and wannabe adventurer Franny–are worse than unfriendly. But then a mysterious pair of ruby red slippers turn up, and the four girls are swept away...not to OZ, but to the jaw–droppingly strange lands of SPOZ, and SPUDZ, and OOZE, pursued by the fashionably mad Cha–Cha Staccato, who bears a frightening resemblance to a certain wicked witch.... Ages: 8 –12

for Seven Years, Bad Luck Has Followed Ivy Around Like A Dog On A Leash. Her Father Disappeared. Her Mother Is A Washed Up Beauty-pageant Winner. Her Aunt Viola Has Died. Viola Did Leave Ivy And Her Mother A House On Gumm Street, But It's Not Much Of A House, And Ivy's Ne Neighbors-bookish Pru, Stuck-up Cat, And Wannabe Adventurer Franny-are Worse Than Unfriendly. But Then A Mysterious Pair Of Ruby Red Slippers Turn Up, And The Four Girls Are Swept Away... Not To Oz, But To The Jaw-droppingly Strange Lands Of Spoz, And Spudz, And Ooze, Pursued By The Fashionably Mad Cha-cha Staccato, Who Bears A Frightening Resemblance To A Certain Wicked Witch...

publishers Weekly

though Her Voice Here Is Predominantly Melodic, Delaney Pleasingly Musters A Bit Of Acid (of The 10-year-old Girl Variety) As Well As A Sense Of Mystery Befitting Primavera's Quirky, Magic-tinged Adventure. Ivy And Her Mother, Cursed By Seven Years' Bad Luck (brought On By A Broken Mirror), Move To A Relative's Spooky Old House On Gumm Street In The Idyllic Candy-colored Town Of Sherbet. Ivy Is Initially Jazzed At Having Girls Her Own Age Around Until She Finds Out That New Neighbors And Classmates Pru, Cat And Franny Already Dislike Each Other And Seem To Dislike Her. But The Girls Are Brought Together For A Most Mystifying And Entertaining Journey ( La L. Frank Baum's Oz) When Ivy Discovers The Ruby Slippers Worn In The Original Hollywood Production Of The Wizard Of Oz At The Home Of Her 122-year-old Piano Teacher, Mr. Staccato. The Blend Of Action, Fantasy, Humor And Real-life Girl Behavior Will Have Listeners Eager For Primavera's Next Installment To This Planned Series. Ages 8-up. (oct.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

In order to save the town of Sherbet, four girls with very little in common become involved with some people and events that seem to bear a resemblance to "The Wizard of Oz."