Caddy Ever After

I LOVE the Casson Family series. Rose is so humorous,and when I would laugh out loud, everyone would stare at me. If you haven't read Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, And Permanete Rose, It wont make sense. but if you have, I say Happy reading!

The Cassons are back with their final hit! Four tales entertwine to make a hilarious story. Caddy Ever After is packed with adventure, humor, mystery, and even romance! And most mysterious is that the author, Hilary Mckay has ended Caddy Ever After with a cliff hanger! It will leave you hungry for the next book!

The newest installment of the Casson family series, "Caddy Ever After," is a novel narrated by all child members of the Casson family--Rose, Saffron, Indigo, and Caddy. Each child's point of view on the days leading up to Caddy's wedding is presented in journal form, with most entries coming from Rose and Saffron. A series of seemingly unrelated events (a school dance, Rose's accident at school, a broken-down car, a lightning storm, Sarah's illness) all culminate in the big event. Many people have complained about the book's title and the fact that it doesn't have much to do with the story. Indeed, Caddy "speaks" very little in the book. But, the intertwined story lines all lead to Caddy's wedding brilliantly. Hilary McKay's eccentric family is as wonderfully unique as usual, and I really enjoyed the multiple first-person views on a few weeks in the life of the family. Indigo is as taciturn and intelligent as usual, Saffron is suffering from some teenaged angst, and Rose is heartbroken at Caddy's new love-at-first-sight and perplexed by events at school. Rose's school days are particularly poignant. Her best friend Kiran is a hilarious storyteller and her teacher downright funny. When Rose's teacher, for example, hears of Caddy's approaching wedding during "Hot Gossip" time, she responds: "'Five team points for being a bridesmaid, then, Rose....And for goodness' sake, stop moping. Thousands of people make unsuitable marriages every day and if you feel that strongly you can always voice your objections at the appropriate point in the service. That is why it is there.'" Well, you can guess what happens. When Caddy, who is marrying the brother of one of Saffy's shortlived boyfriends (met through Indigo), doesn't marry Rose's favorite "darling Michael," she does indeed object. Quite comically, in fact. "Caddy Ever After" is a touching, smart novel for children ages nine and up. It's funny, intelligent, and so very true. "Caddy Ever After" is highly recommended and a welcome addition to the Casson family saga.

The Casson family is back and this time Caddy is in danger of marrying the wrong man in Hillary McKay's fourth installment of her fictional Casson family series, Caddy Ever After. Caddy, the oldest child in the family, has broken her engagement with Michael and is now engaged to marry Alex, a serious animal photographer who only cares about his work. Rose, the youngest of the family, desperately despises Alex and wants to stop the wedding. Meanwhile, she has joined a ghost club! Indigo, the only boy in the family, competes with Oscar to see who can bring the most CDs to the Valentines Day dance. Saffy, the middle sister, goes on a date with Oscar to a spooky graveyard. Oscar gives her a haunted balloon which may cost Saffy her best friend's life. Will Rose be able to stop the wedding? In this heartwarming teen drama, Caddy's wedding plans create chaos for the Casson family. In my opinion Caddy Ever After is the second best book in the Casson Family series (the best is Saffy's Angel). I love how McKay creates a family full of characters that come to life. At some points in the book I felt joyous, at other times I experienced great sorrow. McKay made a good choice to write her book in 3rd person because I knew what each character was thinking which gave me a deeper understanding of them. McKay really made me feel passionate about the characters and as I read on I felt more connected to each one. I especially related to Caddy, because she is the oldest in the family (like me), we have both made difficult choices in our lives, and we have interests in art. This book was an extreme page turner that I could not put down. I would recommend it to any teen who loves books about chaotic but loving families.

Our 10-year-old daughter brought "Saffy's Angel" (by the same author) home from the library a year ago, and we read it together at bedtime. We both loved it for it's lovable family, idiosyncratic but absolutely realistic characters, persistent uproarious humor, and surprising tenderness. Since then, we've devoured all the books in the series and they've become one of our favorite book series, right behind Narnia. "Caddy Ever After" is in some ways the best yet, and makes us eager for the anticipated last book coming out next year.