Like Patricia MacLachlan's other books this is short and sweet. It's only 56 pages, so anyone could easily read it in less than an hour. The book is cute but not memorable. Emma is a likable main character, however all of the characters seemed pretty flat to me, but what can you do in 56 pages? I would have appreciated more description - a lot more. Also, I couldn't figure out the older brother, what age is he supposed to be anyway? He acted like he came straight from a cheezy Disney movie. Keep in mind, this is all from an adult's point of view. I'm sure that there are a lot of 8 year old little girls who can identify with Emma and really love this book.
I would give this book two and a half stars, but it should be noted that my rating scale runs much more to the low side than most people's I've seen. Patricia MacLachlan writes with a quietly lovely style, soft and sweet but with a firm backbone that nicely holds together this story. The characters are warm but real, and the material is about as perfect as it gets for a family read-aloud or something along those lines. "Seven Kisses in a Row" is good to read by oneself or with others. It is a cozy story that will never lose its charm, I am sure.
What do You think about Seven Kisses In A Row (2002)?
This is not one of the authors strong works, and it can't even compare with the others which are thoughtful and well written.This is a story of a little girl whose parents went away to a conference, leaving her and her brother in the very capable hands of their Aunt and Uncle.The Aunt and Uncle are non traditional and furthermore, don't dote on every word and action that the little girl does. She seems to be a brat who gets her way, until the relatives put boundaries on her.Eventually, she grows to love them.Not recommended.
—Linda Lipko
