Shaking Up the House

October 15, 2020
Two sets of sisters battle to be the best pranksters. The L�pez sisters, 12-year-old Winnie and 11-year-old Ingrid, have lived in the White House for the past eight years. As daughters of the first Latinx president, they've carried the burden of being perfect role models as well as they could despite Winnie's impulsivity and Ingrid's joker side. However, with only seven weeks left in their father's presidency and the new first family staying as guests at the White House, the L�pez sisters wholly embrace the tradition of pranking the incoming administration. With 12-year-old identical twins Zora and Skylar Williams moving in as the daughters of the first Black woman president, there are plenty of opportunities to perform elaborate jokes. The Williams twins retaliate with gusto, and soon the pranks escalate, causing trouble in the White House, endangering historical artifacts and First Ferret Lafayette, and leaving Secret Service agents scrambling to do their jobs. The girls must learn to restrain themselves before they do irreparable damage to their families' images and their parents' legacies. The story is told through chapters alternating among the four girls' perspectives, giving a glimpse into their struggles to express their personal identities and the added pressures of being children of color in the public sphere. Readers who enjoy mischief will find this an amusing and instructive read in the art of pranking. Delightfully silly and enjoyable. (Fiction. 8-12)

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December 1, 2020

Gr 3-6-The latest arrival in the emerging genre of "presidential family" fiction. With young and new adult titles such as Casey McQuiston's Red, White, and Royal Blue and Shaun David Hutchison's The State of Us flying off the shelves, it is no surprise to see 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as the backdrop for this middle grade title. Ingrid and Winnie Lopez have spent the last eight years at the White House as the country's first daughters. It is now time for them to turn the keys over to Skylar and Zora. However, preparations for the incoming family are delayed, and the four girls will have to stay under the same roof for several weeks. True to the White House's tradition of playing pranks on the incoming family, Ingrid and Winnie engage in an ongoing series of harmless gags with their successors. Events take an unfortunate turn when the pet ferret goes missing, and the girls' practical jokes interfere with official presidential business. M�ndez has created a funny and diverse cast of characters subverting the representation usually seen in the White House. Ingrid and Winnie are Latina, and Skylar and Zora are African American. They openly talk about their experiences with racism and the pressure they feel to be on their best behavior. While their pranks began as innocent fun, they culminate in a touching friendship and show of solidarity. VERDICT An entertaining read, and a clever reimagining of First Daughter tropes, showing that anyone can be in the White House and have fun doing so.-Katherine Hickey, Metropolitan Lib. Syst., Oklahoma City

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