Language: PG (1 G-word); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
At the beginning of the story, 12yo Jane’s best friend Sierra is moving away. They’ve been dreading this day since the start of seventh grade, but Sierra has an idea. She hides a message in the library book Liar and Spy and leaves Jane with only a clue about it. The mystery of figuring out this clue and then exchanging notes and book recommendations to someone known only as Y helps ease the sting of her friend’s absence. She also misses her dad who is stationed overseas and is determined to see the Kid Lit Quiz team succeed, despite having lost both a teammate (Sierra) and their previous coach. Jane’s classmate Tyson loves doing pranks, even though they often get him in trouble. When he sees Jane hiding a note in a library book, he is curious. He decides to prank her by responding, but finds he really likes these exchanges and eventually becomes part of the Kid Lit Quiz team.
The chapters alternate between first-person Jane’s voice and
Tyson’s story told in third-person. The characters slowly grow satisfactorily both
as individuals and as friends. This is a solid realistic fiction for any middle-grade
library. It convincingly portrays school friendships and family relationships while
also honoring some great works of children’s literature. Be ready to point the
readers of this book to the other wonderful books referenced throughout the
story (and listed in the back).
Reviewer: Pamela K. Foster, MLS, elementary school
teacher-librarian
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