Written by Laura Gehl
Illustrated by Mackenzie Haley
Published July 21, 2020 by Page Street Kids
Mom's Review
The Ninja Club Sleepover is a sweet story of friendship, set against the backdrop of a first sleepover. Well, there's actually a bit more to it than that. Willa is a werewolf, but her friends don't know it, and the sleepover is on the night of a full moon. Anxious that her friends will not accept her, Willa tries to hide from the moon. She learns, however, that each of the other two girls in their ninja club is also secretly a supernatural creature. The girls accept each other after a moment of hesitation, and help one another be brave in the dark, away from home. Also, Willa is just about the cutest werewolf you ever did see!
Ninjas and monsters are a winning combination in this house, but the story is worthwhile even if you aren't usually monster-book readers. The shape that Willa's decision making takes and the reaction to that decision are what set this acceptance-story apart from others. Willa is faced with the choice between allowing a friend to feel like an outsider or showing her friend support by sharing her own secret. Willa's internal debate shows her struggle and fears as well as her empathy. Ultimately, she reassures herself, "I am a ninja, and ninjas are brave," before sharing her werewolf-side with her friends. The friends hesitate before embracing her – this hesitation, this realistic pause while they absorb the news, lets readers know that change is not always immediately embraced. It fosters realistic expectations.
The Ninja Club Sleepover is many things, but most of all a positive story of friendship.
Son's Review
(Age: 5)
The girls at first don't know that they're monsters, but then they find out that they are monsters at the very end. There are different spooky monsters. There is a vampire, a fairy, and a werewolf. It's cute how she [the werewolf] has a little growly voice.
How does the werewolf girl feel in the story?
Werewolf girl feels kinda scared because she doesn't want her friends to find out [that she's a werewolf].
The girls at first don't know that they're monsters, but then they find out that they are monsters at the very end. There are different spooky monsters. There is a vampire, a fairy, and a werewolf. It's cute how she [the werewolf] has a little growly voice.
It's a good book.
The one with the yellow hair is my favorite. If someone's hair is kinda yellowish, you call their hair "blond." Dad's the only person in our family who's not blonde\. You know what's cool about blonde hair? It starts to turn darker and darker as you get older.
The one with the yellow hair is my favorite. If someone's hair is kinda yellowish, you call their hair "blond." Dad's the only person in our family who's not blonde\. You know what's cool about blonde hair? It starts to turn darker and darker as you get older.
How does the werewolf girl feel in the story?
Werewolf girl feels kinda scared because she doesn't want her friends to find out [that she's a werewolf].
Why does she decide to tell the other girls the truth?
So she's a good friend.
So she's a good friend.
Would you want to be in their club? What monster would you want to be?
I would want to be in the ninja club. I don't know [which monster]. I think vampires are gross. I think werewolves are scary. And I think fairies are too small and they're probably gonna be stepped on.
Note: A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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