The Perfect Secret

August 1, 2018
Are there secrets that shouldn't be revealed?In this sequel to The Perfect Score (2017), Randi, Natalie, Gavin, Trevor, and Scott are assigned community service for cheating on a standardized test. It's not really a punishment, as these good-natured students enjoy working in the senior center where they've established relationships, and besides, they want to reconcile two of their teachers, a mother and daughter, before it's too late. As before, narration alternates among the five, and while their characters are well-developed, the various issues are examined lightly. In this case, many are related to secrecy, from budding romance to absentee fathers, familial estrangement, parental marital problems, financial struggle, Alzheimer's, brain injury, adult illiteracy, immigration, and racism. The last three revolve around Gavin, whose Mexican-immigrant mother is undocumented and who becomes the target of the racist football coach. Aside from biracial Gavin and his mother, the book adheres to the white default. Though handled with kindness and compassion, the sheer abundance of topics results in oversimplification, and every story has a pat ending, which, cumulatively, seems unlikely. Still, the characters shine, the plots are engaging, and the issues are addressed in interesting ways that will provide readers with many perspectives and much to consider. Strong characters grapple with a multitude of issues (a few too many) in this celebration of friendship and the rewards of volunteer work. (Fiction. 9-12)

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September 1, 2018

Gr 5-8-The Lake View Middle School students return with a plan to reconcile their two teachers, Mrs. Magenta and Mrs. Woods. The top-secret project isn't the only thing that the friends keep hidden as they face bullying, racism, and familial discord. Gavin, the football star, experiences frequent verbal abuse and retaliation from the coach, Mr. Holmes, but doesn't share these incidents with his best friend. Randi, a gymnast, is also keeping the identity of her half-brother a secret from her mother after the two meet at a travel tournament. Things escalate until the Mr. Holmes is fired, setting off a chain of events which involves a serious accident with one of their cohort. Buyea is skilled at developing relatable characters for middle grade readers, and he continues to use alternating voices that allow the plot to unfold naturally. Despite some of the story lines being a bit predictable, the author introduces timely issues, such as immigration, in an engaging and empathetic manner. VERDICT This sequel shines a light on topics that many young readers are aware of and eager to discuss. The author provides a space where tweens can read about the social realities that impact themselves and their peers.-Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Library, CA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019
This sequel to �cf2]The Perfect Score�cf1] picks up the next fall as the five kids who cheated on a standardized test are made to volunteer at the senior center. The co-narrators have new goals, including reuniting an estranged pair of mother-daughter teachers. Fans may be pleased to be reacquainted with this likable group, but a slow pace and superficial exploration of myriad issues probably won't win new ones.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)