The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls - by Elise Primavera (Paperback)

About the Book

From the bestselling creator of "Auntie Claus" comes her novel debut. When Ivy and her mother move to a ramshackle house on Gumm Street, a mysterious pair of ruby red slippers turns up and sweeps away Ivy and her new neighbors, Pru, Cat, and Franny. Illustrations.

From the Back Cover

Franny longs for adventure but can't even do a cartwheel. Pru can do a cartwheel but prefers hiding under her quilt making up safety tips. Cat has no use for safety tips but supposedly has ESP. And Ivy has had a seven-year string of bad luck--a Jinx that's about to get a whole lot worse.

The four are thrown together when a pair of mysterious ruby red slippers turn up, along with the fashionably mad Cha-Cha Staccato, who bears a frightening resemblance to a certain wicked witch. . . .

As hilarious as it is original, The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls is an unforgettable take on girlhood, piano recitals, The Wizard of Oz, and the dependable everyday magic of true friendship.

Review Quotes

"A delightful tale of friendship and adventure. Primavera's illustrations are small artistic gems." - School Library Journal
"High humor...Primavera's energetic artwork carries the day." - ALA Booklist
"Primavera is at her best." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)