The Zibby Payne series by Alison Bell
Current Mood: pleased
Current Song: Work by Jimmy Eat World
In the spunky, stubborn Zibby Payne, author Alison Bell has created an outstanding character who sticks to her guns and trusts her instincts. Were they contemporaries, Ramona Quimby and Zibby Payne would be friends. Zibby is extremely loyal and very aware of the power of words. She's unafraid to say how she feels, and she also apologizes if she gets too loud or overworked about something. Young readers will learn some important lessons from her, including three very big ones: you don't have to change for others to like you; be proud of who you are; and sometimes, you just gotta go for it! I highly recommend this series for kids in elementary school and just beginning middle school.
The series began with Zibby Payne and the Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment. Zibby is psyched to start the sixth grade with her best friend Sarah. They have always been close and have lots in common, from head to toe. They like many of the same things and often trade shoes so that they have mismatched pairs.
Unfortunately, her first day of middle school does not completely go as she had planned. Sarah and Zibby's friends start talking about boy bands, comparing lip gloss flavours, doing each other's hair, and giggling when boys from their class walk by. Zibby can't believe her eyes or her ears.
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In the second book, Zibby Payne and the Drama Trauma, she steps into the spotlight - literally.
When she first hears about the school play, Zibby is not very interested in it. That changes the second she finds out that the lead character loves playing soccer as much as she does. The role goes to one of her classmates at first, but when she is injured, Zibby gets the part. She is back on Cloud Nine, floating along happily until she learns that there's a kiss in the script. No WAY is she going to kiss a boy!
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Three parties factor into the third book, Zibby Payne and the Party Problem. First, popular Amber invites many of the girls in their class to her exclusive party. She has a history of throwing the biggest, coolest bashes around. This time around, some of her invitations include a "special coupon" redeemable for a secret prize. The girls who don't get invited at all feel left out, and those who get invitations without coupons wonder why Amber included them at all if she doesn't think they are cool enough to get the bonus surprise. Zibby thinks Amber's being unfair, and she wants to boycott the party.
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Three's a crowd in Zibby Payne and the Trio Trouble, the fourth book in the line. New girl Gertrude seems cool from the second she enters the classroom. With her funky vintage clothes, she certainly doesn't dress like any of her classmates. Soon, Zibby learns that Gertrude has odd allergies, that she is an artist, and that she doesn't eat junk food. She's an individual, that's for sure, and Zibby befriends her almost instantly.
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The author is currently working on a fifth book in the series, Zibby Payne and the Red Carpet Revolt, which will be released in the fall of 2008.
Wicked Cool Overlooked Books
I've given this series the WCOB tag. Wicked Cool Overlooked Books is a monthly blog notation encouraged by Colleen from Chasing Ray: On the first Monday of every month, she posts about a book she enjoyed that she wishes others would pick up, and invites others to post their picks as well.
Read my other posts about Wicked Cool Overlooked Books.
Learn more about WCOB at Chasing Ray.
Related Posts: Booklist: Ramona Readalikes, Author Interview: Alison Bell
