Freaky Monday

April 20, 2009
With help from screenwriter Hach (who wrote the screenplay for the 2003 film adaptation of Freaky Friday
), Rodgers reprises her 1972 novel with this unexceptional follow-up that features teacher and student in the switcheroo roles. Hadley, 13, excels at academics but feels “like the lame consolation prize of the family” compared to her athletic, gorgeous sister, Tatum. Ms. Pitt, who is so devoted to her students she has neglected her own life, has taught both sisters. During a class discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird
, she innocently compares Hadley to Tatum, causing teacher and student to simultaneously quote Harper Lee's text about not really understanding a person until you “climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Lights flicker and voilá: Hadley, in Ms. Pitt's body, has instant access to the teacher's lounge, while Ms. Pitt must handle romantic attention from the boy Hadley's been crushing on. A few slapstick scenes occur before the predictable ending in which Hadley realizes that she has talents, Tatum has flaws and Ms. Pitt needs to get out more. Amiable but nothing new. Ages 9–12.

November 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-Thirty-five years after the release of "Freaky Friday" (HarperTrophy, 1972), Mary Rodgers has teamed up with Heather Hach (screenwriter for the most recent "Freaky Friday" movie) to introduce a new reason to hate Mondays (HarperCollins, 2009). Over-achieving eighth-grader Hadley Fox has forgotten to prepare for her oral presentation. In a moment of consolation, Hadley's over-extended English teacher, Ms. Pitt, compares Hadley to her oh-so-perfect-and-beautiful older sister, Tatum. One classic body-switching moment later, Hadley finds herself in her teacher's body, being stared down by the school board for the English Department Chair interview. Over the course of the day, Hadley comes to see both Ms. Pitt and Tatum in a new light, and learns that nobody has the perfect life. Finally, under the incandescent glow of a surprise I Hate Mondays school dance, Hadley vows to quit studying so much, Ms. Pitt decides to cut back on her extracurricular commitments, and the two return to their own bodies. Hadley's curt observations are laugh-out-loud funny. She is sensitive, yet still has pig-headed moments, and listeners will latch on to her teen crises. Jennifer Stone's reading is spot-on adolescent melodrama. However, the overall situation feels superimposed on the characters, and the plot holds no surprises for those familiar with Rodgers' classic. Still, this is a humorous excursion for fans of "Freaky Friday" and those who enjoy novels by Lisa Yee."Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2009
Uber-focused thirteen-year-old Hadley forgets to prepare for her To Kill a Mockingbird oral presentation. She can't imagine anything worse--except maybe switching bodies with her "wannabe-hippie" English teacher, Ms. Pitt. In this companion to Rodgers's classic Freaky Friday, frequent pop culture references try too hard and detract from the story. However, hysterics gratifyingly abound in the mixed-up scenarios.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

June 1, 2009
Gr 4-6-More than 35 years after "Freaky Friday" (HarperTrophy, 1972) was published, Rodgers introduces a new cast of characters in another tale of switching bodies. Hadley Fox is a geeky, overachieving middle school student who thinks her world is ending when she forgets to prepare for an oral presentation in English class. With her teacher prompting her, she tries to wing it. "What happened next sounds made up but I swear it is completely true." That sentence about sums it up. While reciting a line from "To Kill a Mockingbird" in unison with Ms. Pitt, they swap bodies. Hadley finds herself interviewing for the English Department Chair position while her teacher becomes a student again. Of course, both of them learn from the experience. Hadley realizes that there's more to life than academics, and her teacher sees the benefits of developing a social life and cutting back on the number of committees she chairs. After the lessons are learned, they accidentally recite the line that got them into trouble the first time and switch back. Rodgers covers no new ground here, but she offers a light story that should appeal to reluctant readers."Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.