Elise Stokes
Author of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula
About the Author
Image credit: Elise Stokes, author of the Cassidy Jones Adventures series
Series
Works by Elise Stokes
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Elise Stokes
- Birthdate
- 1968
- Education
- Bethany University
- Occupations
- writer
- Short biography
- Elise Stokes lives in Washington State, with her husband and four children. She was an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time mom. With a daughter in middle school and two in high school, Elise’s understanding of the challenges facing girls in that age range inspired her to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity, and intelligence. The stories in the Cassidy Jones Adventures series are fun and relatable, and a bit edgy without taking the reader uncomfortably out of bounds. CASSIDY JONES AND THE SECRET FORMULA is the first book in the series.
- Birthplace
- Mountain View, California, USA
- Places of residence
- Washington, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
I'll begin with a disclaimer: I rarely read books in this genre and, outside of Harry Potter, I don't think I've read any series. According to the author's website, her motivation was "to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity and intelligence," so I will also have to disclose that I am not a teenage girl.
This is why when I say I can't wait for the next installment, you should be impressed.
The focus of the book is obviously Cassidy Jones. Cassidy show more is a vivid, complex character who has fantastic, bizarre things happen to her but always remains an authentic human being. The plot and the other characters serve more as a background to the more important journey as Cassidy's growth as a young woman. I'm sure the other characters will gain dimension as the series progresses, but in creating Cassidy, Elise Stokes has created a much more interesting hero for her series than Mr. Potter and Cassidy's journey is more relevant to our lives and times. Cassidy moves through mood swings, back-and-forth, one step forward, two steps back, crashes and falls, makes sudden turns, changes her mind, makes decisions and regrets decisions . . . in other words, she is a genuine non-linear human being like many teenagers (and like many adults, who are better at building facades to hide their human inconsistencies). Cassidy also makes mistakes, says dumb things and exhibits numerous flaws. She's human, and the reader can't help but develop a strong connection with her.
The contrast with the Potter books is just that. Harry Potter is more about the world Ms. Rowling created and a struggle of ideologies; Cassidy Jones is more about what it means to be a real human being at a time of life when possibilities are endless and endlessly confusing. While there are hints of that theme in the Potter novels, Ms. Stokes is more successful with it.
The book is definitely a page-turner (I finished it in three days while sneaking in some reading sessions at work) and features frequent bursts of ironic humor to keep the reader's perspective in check. The five-star rating I'm giving this book takes into account the fact that this is the first in a series and should be judged on that basis. The book does have flaws here and there, primarily having to do with Cassidy as narrator. Being narrator and hero of the book is quite a heavy load to carry and sometimes Cassidy-the-narrator speaks with too much sophistication and too rich a vocabulary for a 14-year old girl. It might be interesting to relieve her of the narration duty in future installments, or perhaps use the dual-narrator approach that Dickens used in Bleak House.
These are minor distractions that even the great novels contain. Ms. Stokes is off to a fabulous start in her journey "to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity and intelligence," but I think Cassidy Jones has the potential to transcend that limitation and appeal to all people, regardless of age or gender. show less
This is why when I say I can't wait for the next installment, you should be impressed.
The focus of the book is obviously Cassidy Jones. Cassidy show more is a vivid, complex character who has fantastic, bizarre things happen to her but always remains an authentic human being. The plot and the other characters serve more as a background to the more important journey as Cassidy's growth as a young woman. I'm sure the other characters will gain dimension as the series progresses, but in creating Cassidy, Elise Stokes has created a much more interesting hero for her series than Mr. Potter and Cassidy's journey is more relevant to our lives and times. Cassidy moves through mood swings, back-and-forth, one step forward, two steps back, crashes and falls, makes sudden turns, changes her mind, makes decisions and regrets decisions . . . in other words, she is a genuine non-linear human being like many teenagers (and like many adults, who are better at building facades to hide their human inconsistencies). Cassidy also makes mistakes, says dumb things and exhibits numerous flaws. She's human, and the reader can't help but develop a strong connection with her.
The contrast with the Potter books is just that. Harry Potter is more about the world Ms. Rowling created and a struggle of ideologies; Cassidy Jones is more about what it means to be a real human being at a time of life when possibilities are endless and endlessly confusing. While there are hints of that theme in the Potter novels, Ms. Stokes is more successful with it.
The book is definitely a page-turner (I finished it in three days while sneaking in some reading sessions at work) and features frequent bursts of ironic humor to keep the reader's perspective in check. The five-star rating I'm giving this book takes into account the fact that this is the first in a series and should be judged on that basis. The book does have flaws here and there, primarily having to do with Cassidy as narrator. Being narrator and hero of the book is quite a heavy load to carry and sometimes Cassidy-the-narrator speaks with too much sophistication and too rich a vocabulary for a 14-year old girl. It might be interesting to relieve her of the narration duty in future installments, or perhaps use the dual-narrator approach that Dickens used in Bleak House.
These are minor distractions that even the great novels contain. Ms. Stokes is off to a fabulous start in her journey "to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity and intelligence," but I think Cassidy Jones has the potential to transcend that limitation and appeal to all people, regardless of age or gender. show less
If there's one thing I like in a story where someone gets super powers from a lab accident is that someone having a great time learning what she can do. Cassidy Jones is that someone. Oh, it isn't all fun and games--her father is missing and some very scary people want her for what she now is--but she still manages to have a sense of awe over things.
I really could have done without the high school drama plot, especially because there was so much going on elsewhere. (I veto the Jared show more loooooooove thing.) Because this really wasn't a story about Cassidy having superpowers in high school, it was a story about Cassidy having to step up and be a hero and actually save people from harm.
Let's say it's 2.5/5 stars.
(Provided by publisher) show less
I really could have done without the high school drama plot, especially because there was so much going on elsewhere. (I veto the Jared show more loooooooove thing.) Because this really wasn't a story about Cassidy having superpowers in high school, it was a story about Cassidy having to step up and be a hero and actually save people from harm.
Let's say it's 2.5/5 stars.
(Provided by publisher) show less
4.4 Big Stars
I loved the adventure this author took me on. I was taken this town where a 15 year old girl and a 15 year old boy save a massive beast and possibly our freedom. I know you're think 15 years olds ??? It was so intelligently written that I forgot through most of the book that they were so young. These two have brains and use them more than their hormones ! They also have a bond that is just being explored, not romance, but more than friendship. I love the interaction between them show more and the relationship they have, true friendship and trust.
Cassidy has gained some 'super powers" from a lab accident in Emery's mothers lab. His mother has him on watch duty, protecting her and helping her gain control of these yet mostly unknown powers. Emery is some kind of genius and very hot guy who was set to go to college at 15 but stayed home to help out Cass. When a Tiger goes missing at the zoo, they can't help but search the beast out before it hurts someone or get's hurt itself. This leads the two into another bigger and dangerous mess. There is hint or romance but there is also another love interest for one of the two.
I can't wait for more. show less
I loved the adventure this author took me on. I was taken this town where a 15 year old girl and a 15 year old boy save a massive beast and possibly our freedom. I know you're think 15 years olds ??? It was so intelligently written that I forgot through most of the book that they were so young. These two have brains and use them more than their hormones ! They also have a bond that is just being explored, not romance, but more than friendship. I love the interaction between them show more and the relationship they have, true friendship and trust.
Cassidy has gained some 'super powers" from a lab accident in Emery's mothers lab. His mother has him on watch duty, protecting her and helping her gain control of these yet mostly unknown powers. Emery is some kind of genius and very hot guy who was set to go to college at 15 but stayed home to help out Cass. When a Tiger goes missing at the zoo, they can't help but search the beast out before it hurts someone or get's hurt itself. This leads the two into another bigger and dangerous mess. There is hint or romance but there is also another love interest for one of the two.
I can't wait for more. show less
What if you were fourteen and suddenly turned by mistake into a super-hero? Cassidy Jones finds herself living a double life and trying to keep her super powers in check.
Book Two of the Cassidy Jones series is action-packed and imaginative. Ignoring the stock young adult formula of “girls needs rescue by boy she loves,” Stokes navigates her readers through tiger hunting and python tangling with originality. This is sheer fun where mystery and adventure abound. The interplay between show more teenagers and parents is realistic and wholesome. The author has a knack of capturing modern-day adolescence with vocabulary like “FYI, dude, and totally epic.”
Although part of a series, the book stands on its own. Geared toward young adult audiences, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift is a powerfully entertaining read for adults as well. Highly recommended. show less
Book Two of the Cassidy Jones series is action-packed and imaginative. Ignoring the stock young adult formula of “girls needs rescue by boy she loves,” Stokes navigates her readers through tiger hunting and python tangling with originality. This is sheer fun where mystery and adventure abound. The interplay between show more teenagers and parents is realistic and wholesome. The author has a knack of capturing modern-day adolescence with vocabulary like “FYI, dude, and totally epic.”
Although part of a series, the book stands on its own. Geared toward young adult audiences, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift is a powerfully entertaining read for adults as well. Highly recommended. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 5
- Members
- 227
- Popularity
- #99,085
- Rating
- 4.3
- Reviews
- 30
- ISBNs
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