Disneylanders, A Novel: Book Review (From 7/6/13)

   

*Disneylanders, a young adult novel, has recently been re-released by a new publisher with a gorgeous new cover, so we thought we'd share my review from last year.-Barbie

 
Have you ever read a book that immediately transports you to the place or time that you are reading about? The sights, the sounds and smells? Has a book ever taken you back to your childhood? Well, Kate Abbott's book, Disneylanders, A Novel, published by Theme Park Press, does just that. Not only does the author take me straight to Disneyland, but she has the ability to take me back in time to my own childhood and those oh–so–awkward moments of testing my wings; trying to become an adult. (p.s. this book is geared for the teen audience.)

Kate Abbott's book is well written and thoughtful; about a thirteen year old girl struggling to figure out who she is. Casey is on vacation with her parents at Disneyland, where through crazy circumstances, she bumps into a fifteen year old boy and they innocently spend their time together with and without their families, touring the parks, enjoying the rides and getting to know one another. There's a lot of Disney trivia thrown in for good measure.

I found myself completely engrossed in the story, reading aloud descriptive paragraphs to my husband, and quizzing him on the chapter titles. Each chapter named "more or less on a famous Disney slogan, song, attraction, show or spiel." (The answers were at the end of the book!)

Although the book is written for a specific group, young adults or tweens, I truly enjoyed reading this. It is a fun, heartfelt story, sometimes hitting close to home, it made the tale that much more believable.