Parenthetical.net

Babymouse loves Halloween. (I can relate. My front porch still looks like Halloween threw up on it.) She wants to dress up as something scary and have a party with her friends, most of whom seem to be boys. But her nemesis, Felicia Furrypaws, informs her that, “Everyone knows that girls have to be pretty for Halloween. It’s a RULE!” (Dear women who feel compelled to be a “sexy ____” every year, this book is for you.)

Felicia gets herself and her clique invited to Babymouse’s party, and they take over her Halloween with their rules and their mean house-egging and toilet-papering. When they steal Babymouse’s little sister’s candy, it’s the last straw.

This book? Is pretty fabulous. Babymouse’s conflict between wanting her own kind of Halloween but not being able to say no to the socially powerful (and kind of scary, even in her bride costume) Felicia is completely believable. The orange and black illustrations set just the right Halloweeny mood. And I love the author’s fourth-wall-breaking commentary. (When Babymouse gives her little sister her “candy” — all of which is toothbrushes and floss anyway — the author notes, “Your dentist will approve, Babymouse.”)

All in all, I felt like I was right back in fourth grade, in the best possible way. Well done!

ETA: Also reviewed on Pink Me.

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