Review by Booklist Review
Sleepovers can be lots of fun with great food, games, and late-night chats. For some kids, however, a sleepover is a stressful new experience. This book tackles the issue head on, while giving it a playful twist. Willa and her friends Val and Fiona are planning their ninja-themed sleepover. These friends bonded over their love of everything ninja, but can they also accept one another for their differences? Willa is nervous because the party is during the full moon, and she hasn't told her friends that she's a werewolf! She hopes to hide her transformation, but little does Willa know that Fiona and Val have fantastical secrets of their own. Each girl tries to hide her differences, but in the end the truth is revealed, and the girls become better friends for it. The colorful digital illustrations and bolded words within the text make this a good choice for reading aloud. Containing diverse characters and real-life issues of anxiety and acceptance, this is an entertaining and affirming look at being your true self.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This sweet tale of three BFFs sharing secrets at a birthday sleepover on a night with a full moon takes on a bit of a Halloween vibe. Willa is eager to attend her very first sleepover, where she'll join her fellow ninja enthusiasts--and brave Ninja Club members--Fiona and Val for Val's ninja-tastic birthday party. As the full moon rises that night, Willa nearly backs out, worrying that her friends will be afraid of her when they find out she's a werewolf. But when the fun is in full swing and the trio heads out into Val's moonlit backyard to play, Willa learns that she needn't have been concerned: Fiona and Val have been hiding interesting metamorphoses, too. Though the ninja focus may be a draw, the overarching themes of acceptance and celebrating true friendship win the day here. Digital illustrations featuring rosy-cheeked girls and a smiling moon keep this outing on the not-so-scary side. Ages 4--8. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--In this sweet story, three friends love ninjas and have created a ninja club. They decide to plan a sleepover party. For Willa, it will be her first sleepover and she is nervous, especially because the party will take place on a night with a full moon. That's not such a great thing when you are a closeted werewolf. Willa decides to make a costume that will completely cover her skin and prevent a werewolf transformation. The night of the party, things are going well until Fiona falls off the monkey bars, revealing that she is a fairy. Suddenly the moon is so bright, Willa transforms into a werewolf and Val shows herself to be a vampire. It turns out that all three girls have their own secret, and the trio realizes that they are all unique and brave. The evocative digital art includes bold colors and unique patterns, enriching the tone of the text. VERDICT These spunky characters are sure to warm every readers heart with their sincerity and bravery.--Martha Rico, Yselta ISD, TX
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
At her first sleepover, Willa is afraid of showing her friends her true self. Willa, Val, and Fiona love to play Ninja Club at school. They even have the same ninja T-shirts and backpacks. For her birthday, Val is having a Ninja Club sleepover at her house, but Willa has a problem. Willa is a werewolf, and the party is on the night of a full moon. If she exposes herself to the moonlight and becomes a werewolf, Willa thinks she'll scare her friends away. She devises a plan to stay out of the moonlight, but it is more difficult than she imagined. Then, when they're going through an obstacle course, Fiona falls and reveals a secret of her own. Willa must decide whether to be brave or keep her secret hidden. Ninjas and the supernatural make for a fun fusion in this story about friendship, acceptance, and first sleepovers. All three girls learn how to be brave and to trust one another while also discovering how their unique qualities make them awesome. The colorful and lively illustrations also hold secrets in the small details. The three girls are diverse; Willa has beige skin and brown curly hair, Fiona has medium-brown skin and black hair, and Val has pale skin and blond hair. A sweet, supernatural acceptance story. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
