The Anybodies by N.E. Bode
Publication: HarperCollins (May 25, 2004), Hardcover, 288 pages / ISBN 0060557354
Genre: Paranormal, Children’s/YA
Rating: 
Find @ Amazon
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge (#16)
First sentence: Fern Drudger knew that her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Drudger, were dull.
In one sentence: Super-sweet book with lovable characters and a quirky plot.
There’s quite a few books out there written by authors with clever pseudonyms, and most of them live up to the quirkiness of those names. The Anybodies is one of those books, and even better than its quirkiness is its sweetness, its big-hearted story, and its lovable characters.
Summary from Amazon:
What if I were to TELL you that this is an all-true story, every word?
You see, once there was a VERY REAL girl named Fern who found out that she’d been swapped at birth. This might disturb some people, but it made Fern happy because she’d never felt at home with her tragically dull parents, the Drudgers. Fern finds out about the mix-up when the Bone (er, her father) and his “son,” Howard, show up at Fern’s front door. Now both families decide to UNSWAP the kids for the summer, and Fern heads off with the Bone on a wild adventure into a world inhabited by the Miser, a sinister fellow; and the Great Realdo, a true hero, to name just two.
This book promises suspense! Intrigue! Mystery! Fairies fall out of books! Birds turn into dogs! Nuns turn into lampposts! So I have no idea why you’re still lingering here. . . . Start reading!
Fern is so adorkable. She’s weird and quirky and not entirely sure what that means for her as a person, but she’s totally willing to embrace her quirkiness and the quirkiness of other. It kind of reminds me of Alice when she runs into, like, every character in Wonderland ever and just takes it in stride.
Fern’s actual father isn’t, er, the best sort of father, but he tries (eventually), but Fern’s grandmother, who Fern and her father try to con (it’s not as despicable as it sounds), completely makes up for that in the best sort of way. She’s a book fiend! She quizzes Fern on different books and, I admit it, I had a little thrill go through me when I recognized all the references but one.
The Anybodies does tend to toe the line between sweet and overly sappy, and sometimes when the author broke the fourth wall (ala Lemony Snicket) it was weird and slightly awkward instead of funny, and maybe some plot points don’t come together as cleanly as they could (I’m thinking mainly the whole thing with the Anybodies and what they actually do), but I don’t care (mostly). It’s SO. CUTE. I ended up getting a copy to keep, too!
If you like sweet stories with quirky characters and a happy ending, try out The Anybodies. And, lucky me, there’s two sequels. Yay!
Oh, and be sure to check out the author’s website, too. Lots of funny videos for fans of her books and for use in the classroom, if you want.
Other reviews: A Fort Made of Books
Thursday Tea is a weekly meme hosted by yours truly. To play along, all you need is some tea, a book, and the will to answer some very simple questions: what tea are you drinking (and do you like it)? What book are you reading (and do you like it)? Tell us a little about your tea and your book, and whether or not the two go together.
dangerous quest will lead directly to a showdown with the Hoboken, one of the most feared pirate vessels ever to sail the Jersey shores, and its reckless captain, Lee. But there are far worse things than pirates that call these waters home…From Eisner Award-nominated artist Becky Cloonan comes a rousing nautical adventure unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before!
and so this’ll have to be quick and minus a lot of links that’d normally be in here.
There Will Be Dragons by 
The tea: I decided to try that Chai White tea tea I wrote about before. When I first tried it I didn’t particularly like it, but this second time around I let it steep longer (about a minute and a half longer, in fact), and it was much better. It’s very light and actually a pretty good choice for when the weather is hot– it doesn’t bog you down with flavor, etc.
The book: I’m nearly finished with the second 
The Buried Pyramid by 
