This was alright. It felt disjointed though. It's about a girl and her brother who get sent to a private school where all these kids with horns go. It's mentioned to be some kind of genetic aberration or something. It was passed over way too easily for me because I think that would be a pretty big deal for people if all of these kids had crazy horns growing out of their heads. Enough kids to start a school. This girl Frankie discovers she has some kind of witch powers. Then there's these poltergeists menacing the school that she has to trap. The pieces just don't fit together, especially once the ending occurs. I do think an editor could have turned this into a much stronger book. This almost feels like a first pass.

Also, this was listed under comics and it was not at all a comic but straight up prose.

Frankie and her brother Lucie are going to a new boarding school, one that will be better for Lucie as he has an unique issue. Mainly the fact that he has horns growing out of his head. Frankie is pissed as she has to leave all her friends behind, and because most of these kids are "deems" or have unusual issues themselves. Frankie believes that this is a strange cult lead by this mysterious doctor and tries to convince the other students that it's true. They don't believe her and so she becomes a little bit of an Outcast, though Lucie is loving it. She does her student duties of gym janitor and is order around by two sisters. The sisters reveal that the doctor is trying to destroy the world and start helping Frankie learn magic so they can escape. Things go a little crazy, harsh words are said all around, and the ending is opened for another story.

The book isn't terrible, but it felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. I also wasn't a fan of Frankie, I get her anger at her mother for overcompensating with Lucie due to his problem, but she never actually has a conversation with her mother until the second to last chapter. She also doesn't actually listen to what her friends are saying and is more focused on getting her cellphone to work or using her newfound powers. I'd be interested in what the sequel has in store, but I'd probably rather read a synopsis instead of the whole book.

Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★☆☆☆

This is a quirky, cute, and potentially interesting book. If would have been a solid 3 star read until the end. I say the end, but it doesn't really end. I mean, the pages stop, but none of the plots you spent the whole book following come to end. They just add more questions and end the book.

Imagine reading a murder mystery. You've read almost the whole book. You have so many clues. You think you know who the bad guy is. The detective goes to confront the killer, but all the sudden the murder victim come forward, not so dead as you thought, and says something ludicrous like "I'm pregnant and I think the baby is yours." Then the book ends!

That's how I feel right now. The main plot was never finished and there was more plot added at the very end. It's a nasty unfulfilled feeling. Which is why two stars instead of three.

Like always though, read it and decide for yourself

The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Cardi has the potential to be really good, but it’s missing that special something that puts books over the top.

Part of the problem is that the boarding school trope has been done a lot. And it’s been done well. The Pythagorean Institute feels familiar. Almost too familiar. Yes, there are things that set it apart, but I couldn’t help but think of the Wednesday Addams movie mixed with a couple of other book series when reading it.

The other major problem is that the plot never really seems to get to the point. Yes, this is part of a planned series, but it’s like the story cuts off mid-way through. Everyone loves a cliffhanger, but this leaves readers so unsatisfied, I’m not sure 10-year-olds will want to stick with it when the next book comes out.

On the plus side, The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Cardi does move fairly fast, and it features some good imagery. I would probably wait until the next book comes out, and read the first two together, so that there’s some reward as far as the plot goes.

This book was categorized in the comics/manga/graphic novels category but it isn’t. It’s just a regular novel. I’ll have to rent it from the library sometime and edit my review when I read it. I requested this book thinking it was a comic or graphic novel because that’s what it said it was. This app needs to work harder to make sure books aren’t categorized incorrectly like this. This is the fourth or fifth time this has happened to me on here. Hopefully this feedback gets taken seriously.

I’ll change my star rating when I edit my review after reading the real book.

In "The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Caridi," Johnny Marciano introduces readers to a world where the typical back-to-school routine is anything but ordinary. Frankie Caridi, a girl who has never experienced normalcy, finds herself learning to harness the power of crystals and trap marauding spirits. The secrets of magic, however, pale in comparison to the secrets she uncovers about her own past, setting the stage for an intriguing and mysterious adventure.

Frankie has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Lucie, who is not only outgoing, smart, and kind but also has horns. When Lucie receives a full scholarship to The Pythagorean Institute, Frankie reluctantly follows, sensing something amiss with the school. The institute resembles a prison, many students have horns like Lucie, and the headmaster's demeanor is more cult-like than educational. Frankie’s unsettling dreams, which feel more like memories, add to the eerie atmosphere.

As Frankie delves deeper into the mysteries of the Institute, she discovers more about her own identity and past than she ever imagined. Her journey out of her brother’s shadow reveals newfound powers, but these abilities come with their own set of challenges. Marciano crafts a captivating tale that blends magic, mystery, and self-discovery, though at times the pacing feels uneven, and some plot points are predictable. Overall, "The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Caridi" is an engaging read with a unique premise, earning it a solid 3.5 stars.

I had the chance to read The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Caridi # 1 recently, and I had a really good time. The middle grade book is written by Johnny Marciano

I really liked the mysteries surrounding The Pythagorean Institute and its headmaster Dr. Rudolpho Natas. When Frankie and her brother Lucie are sent to the school, Frankie slowly comes to see herself as less “normal” than she always thought.

Oh, did I forget to mention that Lucie has horns? He’s also very strong (superhuman-like). There are other not-really-human characters including fauns, vampires, and spirits. They are “deems”. Of course, our eponymous hero soon discovers that she’s not so “normal” after all.

One of the things that I enjoyed was the periodic “step-banks” to remind readers that this was all taking place in the real world.

With all that said, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending to this book. In fact, the ending doesn’t really feel like an ending at all. It just felt like we got to the big climax of the book without a resolution. Of course, I do know that there will be additional books in this series; however, that was kind of a bummer.

I did enjoy the book enough that I would love to read the second book when it becomes available. I think kids will really like this.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Workshop for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Entertaining and all around a fun read! The characters were interesting and the plot held me until the very end.

So when I got this I thought it was going to be a graphic novel but it ended up not being. Though it did end up being a really good story. It covers some topics that kids deal with while in school. It follows Frankie who feels like a third wheel in her own family. And her brother, their moms favorite, gets into a special school and Frankie is coming up with a lot of theories. You get to figure out what's really going on with her while also getting info that she does not know. I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

So much of this book turned out to be unexpected. Even to the very end the way people act and the choices made have me feeling that there’s something way bigger than even what the big reveal at the end was. It took some time for me to understand Frankie. She’s portrayed as this really negative character, but I realized she’s been brought up and treated the way she has for so long that her criticisms of how she’s treated and the way things are make her look negative, but in reality she’s hurting and she’s just expressing and bringing attention to that hurt and it doesn’t get answered.

Frankie’s mom bothers me a lot. Especially because I had experienced similar from my grandmother growing up but, I had a much different approach to dealing with it then Frankie does. Or actually, maybe it wasn’t so different. I think the main difference was more people’s reaction to me. Frankie is seen as a negative person while I got a lot more sympathy for what I was going through. I feel so much for her because she’s purposely getting gaslit from all sides and she’s trying to figure out what’s happening and it’s not working out. Everyone seems to know more about what’s going on then she does and she’s being played as a puppet in everyone’s game and it saddened my heart.

Also the constant fighting between her and her brother Lucie really got to me too because it’s really shitty to see that her brother and her mom have a united front and can talk to each other, but Frankie is outcasted because she’s the one that calls out the flaws in the unbalanced treatment she receives. Some parents are very much the kind of people that say you take how I treat you and shut up and that’s how her mom is and I hate it.

I am very nervous and afraid for Frankie for whatever happens in the next book. This author knows what the trauma of a narcissistic parent looks like and I am afraid that things are going to get even worse.

All in all, I recommend this magical fantasy where a girl experiences being put in a magical school against her will and is uncovering dark secrets along the way. If you love all kinds of morally grey characters you will love this book.