Gabby Duran and the Unsittables

March 15, 2015
Twelve-year-old Gabby Duran's reputation as babysitter to the stars is positively intergalactic. As if watching the children of Hollywood's hottest action hero weren't cool enough, now the Association Linking Intergalactics and Earthlings as Neighbors has come knocking. After a series of babysitting mishaps threatens to expose the secret of human-alien integration, they declare Gabby "Sitter to the Unsittables." Though a bit one-dimensional, Gabby is a conscientious and likable heroine who rises to the challenge of protecting a young, shape-shifting alien for an entire school day. It's no easy feat, with a bounty on her head and undercover agents for the Group Eradicating Totally Objectionable Uninvited Trespassers hot on her trail. Sworn to secrecy and uncertain whom she can trust, Gabby risks everything to protect her new extraterrestrial charge. Middle-grade readers looking for an accessible and entertaining foray into science fiction will find plenty to enjoy here. Relying heavily on visual description and peppered with eccentric characters, this first book in a planned series plays out like a Disney pilot. What's lacking is depth. Gabby's complicated and intriguing family history is introduced in the very beginning of the novel and barely mentioned again. Surely the "trusted friends" who are invited to read Gabby's first dossier deserve a real understanding of what makes her unique. (Science fiction. 7-12)

May 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-Gabby works hard as a babysitter, earning money to help her mother support their family. She plays the French Horn and desires to attend a prestigious music college in the future. Her skill with children has led to jobs working with movie stars as well as neighbors. But none of her previous babysitting experiences have completely prepared her for what comes her way when an old woman offers Gabby a job she can't refuse. With her dream of attending the expensive music school squarely in mind, the compassionate tween accepts the assignment to babysit the "unsittable." These alien children bring more excitement and secrets into Gabby's life than she is prepared to handle. Since the work is highly secretive and can come at any time, Gabby has to decide if she is really willing to do what it takes to care for and protect these children, possibly at the cost of her own friendships and music. An entertaining look at the possibilities inherent in alien life on earth, Gabby's adventures will enthrall readers eager to explore a world of surprises and secrets. VERDICT The humorous details and quick plot make this a fun book for reluctant and avid readers alike.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 Gabby Duran is a sixth-grade supersitter. Kids love her and parents worship her, so much so that she takes a private plane to out-of-state sitting jobs and has to recruit her extra-organized little sister Carmen to manage her bookings and travel schedule. But when Gabby's skills attract the attention of some . . . otherworldly clients, will her mixture of enthusiasm and empathy enable her to survive a session with a uniquely abled, and uniquely terrifying, eight-year-old? Gabby and her friends are all well-rounded, lively characters who are fun to get to know. Especially gratifying is Gabby's account of learning to understand Carmen, who appears to have some non-neurotypical attributes, and how that informs her babysitting philosophy. Overall, Allen and Conners' goofy inventions, wild plot, and peppy dialogue keep things light. Readers who have previously visited Dan Greenburg's Weird Planet or Ray O'Ryan's Galaxy Zack series, as well as fans of Ursula Vernon's Dragonbreath series will be delighted by the blend of real-world drama and far-out sci-fi humor in this briskly plotted crowd-pleaser.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)