Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 10/10/2011 7:09:17 AM
A secret formula goes wrong and the professor in charge goes missing. Teenager Cassidy Jones obtains unexpected, heightened powers from a scientific explosion. How will she use them? <i>Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula </i> is a hip, fast-paced adventure chock full of issues young people can relate to. The plot is original and exciting and the characters well-rounded. Main character,Cassidy, is a budding detective full of courage and integrity. This refreshing YA book doesn’t need vampires or witches to be compelling.
Elise Stokes, mother of four children and former elementary teacher understands how kids think and writes the way they talk. Although a clean read, the book is not preachy and will appeal to male and female teens alike. Ms. Stokes states that the book is not “Christian” but that her faith is woven throughout. The story is complete on its own and very satisfying, but the door is left open for the next installment.
Appropriate for middle school and high school readers. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of <i>Crestmont </i>
http://www.hollyweiss.com
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 8/30/2011 4:22:55 AM
Cassidy Jones has always been the quiet child, the one most likely to stay away from the center of attention. Unfortunately, this doesn't last long and it's not even her choice. Cassidy goes from being the normal girl who is "average" to being the girl with potential super powers. The very person Cassidy suspects for this sudden change, Professor Serena Phillips, is missing. Luckily, Cassidy has Serena's brilliant son, Emery, to help her. Emery is a bit of an enigma, but he readily helps Cassidy. The reader will love following Cassidy as she slowly comes to grips with her powers. Emery is a bit of a crutch while she is learning, he warns her that she is in danger as well. They both team up in an exciting adventure to track down Emery's mom and bring her back safely, the action is upped when Cassidy loses someone even closer to her.
The characters are the real draw into the book, as well as the idea of enhanced powers. The reader can easily picture him/herself as the main character. Cassidy is timid and normal in the beginning of the book, she has to learn to be stronger, calmer, and to leave her shyness behind at the end of the novel. It is interesting to watch as she changes, her character is very dynamic. Emery is the brilliant one; he tends to be the calmer and more collected one. His character acts as a foil to Cassidy. The other secondary characters are no less interesting, the reader will happily get to know them all.
The events are fast-paced and will keep the reader on his/her toes. The plot is terrific, really holds the readers' attention. This book is recommended for readers of all ages who enjoy a good mystery with a few super powers thrown in.
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 8/23/2011 6:06:25 PM
Cassidy Jones doesn’t stand out in a crowd. She isn’t popular, nor is she a bully. She can’t climb a rope in PE to save her life, and she has an allergy to sports equipment in general. In the sea that is Queen Anne High School, she has “adopted the strategy of being a sardine. A sardine wasn’t exciting, but it was safe.” She’s the very last person you’d ever suspect of having mutant genes and super powers.
But the morning after an accident in the lab of a famous scientist, Cassidy finds that her senses, emotions, reflexes, memory and strength have all been amplified. She’s been turned into a finely-tuned weapon, but one as unstable as hydrogen in a smoker’s lounge.
As Cassidy learns control her new strengths, the scientist suddenly disappears. Distrustful of the police, Cassidy teams up with Emery, the scientist’s brilliant teenage son, to locate her and bring her safely home. After all, the woman is the only one who can help Cassidy now. But Emery warns her that enhanced abilities place her in grave danger. The ones who kidnapped his mother would stop at nothing to control Cassidy and use her powers for their own evil purposes.
And then someone even closer to Cassidy disappears.
Ms. Stokes employs a very solid writing style. It’s not particularly beautiful or witty, but it flows along as strong and as easy as a Mississippi current. It’s a natural base for the hard-hitting, fast-moving action that zips above it like a powerboat, tugging us along in its wake till the final pages. Pages that, I must say, compel me into the sequel. I mean, who is the strange new character at the end? Who has the item missing from the lab? And what, I want to know, does this mean for Cassidy’s future?
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First I need to let you know that Ms. Stokes has crafted Cassidy Jones in such a way that even guys will enjoy getting in on this adventure. Don’t let the girly name in the title throw you, fellas. The book isn’t girly. It reads like a comic book, with a gaudy, insane villain, unlikely heroes, and high-powered action sequences. Numerous references to well-known characters like Clark Kent and Wolverine back up this comic book illusion, as does Cassidy’s little brother’s fetish with all things superhero. And it’s clean! I highly recommend this one.
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 7/22/2011 11:59:05 AM
Flaming hair, kicking butt, and taking names. That is what Cassidy Jones is all about. This girl used to be a wallflower, but not anymore. She stepped up to the plate and she is taking anyone down who gets in her way.
Her family is pretty dang cool, she has a twin brother, super hero lovin' little brother, a famous dad, and the perfect mom. Forget the Cleavers, this is the family I wanna belong to. Her friends are pretty amazing too. Emery and Miriam are definitely two characters you won't be forgetting in a hurry.
A famous geneticist is kidnapped right after Cassidy's dad tries to interview her. Unfortunately, the interview gets cut short because Cassie has a small accident. She falls off a rickety old stool and busts her head open on one of the cluttered tables in this lab. As she does, some of the creepy looking bottles on burners mix and Cassidy inhales the vaopr right before she knocks herself out. I'm not saying she turns into Spiderman or anything like that, but what does happen to her after that is pretty freaking cool.
Cassidy and Emery create a bond when he comes to live with them for a while while the search for his mother continues. Cassidy isn't sure at first if she can trust him, but soon learns he is unlike any boy she has met before, and discovers her trust is will placed in him. With his brains and her skills, there will have to be one heck of an army in place to stop them. The problem is - there is one heck of an army, and one deranged, evil bad guy waiting to stop them.
This was a super fun story and one that I have had on my shelf waiting to be read for some time now. I wish I had been able to get it sooner, although maybe I won't has as long to wait now for Cassidy's next adventure. This book was full of twists and turns, and there was always something happening. I never felt there was a lull in the story line, and I really could not put it down. I read the entire thing TODAY.
This is a great YA book, it says that it is appropriate for 12 and older, I honestly would have no problem with my 9-year-old daughter reading this book. As a matter of fact, she has been eyeballing it and asking me how I like it. I think I will have to pass it along to her to read tomorrow. There is a bit of blood in the story, but no one is killed, so if you do not like your child reading anything with violence in it, be warned, there is fighting. But it is done with little description and no disturbing imagery.
There is also no love story in the background, so you don't have to worry about your young one getting into a kissy, touchy, feely book. This book is ALL YA, and just because there is a lack of holding hands and anticipating first kisses, this book is chocked full of great story telling. This reviewer gives it 4 stars and wants to thank Elise Stokes for giving me the chance to read and review her amazing work.
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 6/13/2011 11:04:53 AM
I have to say that I was absolutely intrigued from the very beginning of this story and simply could not put the book down. Elise Stokes has woven a fantastic tale about a 15 year old girl that unwittingly finds herself becoming a scientific blunder. Turned into a super hero she soon has to join forces with the scientists son in order to save his mother from possible doom.
This story has all elements of surprise and a captivating side story involving the life of a teenager in High School. This book is great for kids ages 12 and up and I cannot wait for the sequels to come!
Elise Stokes ranks up there with other YA masterminds! This is a definite must -read book!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 6/11/2011 5:49:35 AM
This book is a great read for all ages! Take a look at it and you will immediately fall in love with Cassidy and the adventures she has. I think many girls can relate to her and would secretly wish they had the powers!
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 6/9/2011 10:57:55 AM
Loved this book and can't wait for the next one! Everyone I have recommended this book to absolutely falls in love with it. "Cassidy Jones" combines real life with a twist of super hero that is not only believable but easy to relate to. Can't wait to see what adventures await Cassidy, and P.S. Elise, give Jared a chance!!!
Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Book) - 6/8/2011 9:00:10 PM
I loved Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula! Cassidy is an engaging heroine who you can't help but root for and Stokes is an excellent storyteller. I first picked up this book after both of my kids read and recommended it. I was not disappointed. It was a real page turner, with equal parts, action, adventure, romance, and awkward social situations that I'm sure many young readers will relate to. I would highly recommend Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula to teens and tweens alike. Can't wait for the next installment!
