THE 66TH REBIRTH OF FRANKIE CARIDI, by Johnny Marciano and Ashley Mackenzie, Penguin Workshop, July 9, 2024, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 10 and up)
A “normal” girl finds herself at a boarding school for kids who have unusal talents in The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Cardi, by Johnny Marciano and Ashley Mackenzie.
Frankie is used to living in her younger brother’s shadow. Lucie is outgoing, smart, kind, and has horns. Yes, horns. Frankie’s life has always revolved around Lucie, so when she’s told she must attend a new boarding school because Lucie has been given a full scholarship, she knows she has no other choice. But something about The Pythagorean Institute is off. The building looks like a prison, half of the students have horns like her brother, and the headmaster acts more like a cult leader than a principal. Even weirder, however, are the dreams Frankie has been having since she moved into her dorm. Dreams that sometimes seem more like… memories.
Trapped in this new school with no way home, Frankie must get to the bottom of why the place unsettles her so much. But in learning about the Institute, Frankie learns more about herself — and her past — than she could ever have expected. What she discovers brings her out of her brother’s shadow and gives her powers beyond belief, but the spotlight comes with its own set of troubles. —Synopsis provided by Penguin Workshop
The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Cardi has the potential to be really good, but it’s missing that special something that puts books over the top.
Part of the problem is that the boarding school trope has been done a lot. And it’s been done well. The Pythagorean Institute feels familiar. Almost too familiar. Yes, there are things that set it apart, but I couldn’t help but think of the Wednesday Addams movie mixed with a couple of other book series when reading it.
The other major problem is that the plot never really seems to get to the point. Yes, this is part of a planned series, but it’s like the story cuts off mid-way through. Everyone loves a cliffhanger, but this leaves readers so unsatisfied, I’m not sure 10-year-olds will want to stick with it when the next book comes out.
On the plus side, The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Cardi does move fairly fast, and it features some good imagery. I would probably wait until the next book comes out, and read the first two together, so that there’s some reward as far as the plot goes.
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