From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble Review
Three Aussie girls become pen pals with three guys at another school in this delightful, high-spirited read by Feeling Sorry for Celia author Jaclyn Moriarty.
Told entirely through letters, diary entries, emails, and other writing, Moriarty's novel introduces us to Emily, Lydia, and Cassie -- all students at Ashbury High -- who begin writing to their Brookfield High counterparts through the schools' organized pen pal project. Readers learn quickly that each girl has her own writing style and that at two of the Brookfield boys (Seb and Charlie) seem to be smitten with Lydia and Emily. The only trouble is Cassie's pen pal, Matthew, a shady character who first sends her short, threatening letters and then becomes strangely sweet toward her. Nobody can figure out why Cassie keeps writing to him, but after she has a crushing meet-up with Matthew, Cassie discovers -- with the help of her friends and the Brookfield guys -- that he hasn't been honest about his identity. All could be ended there, but when Charlie helps take revenge and Brookfield High gets mysteriously vandalized, the group comes together to deliver justice and save the endangered pen pal project.
Fresh and impressive, Moriarty's novel is lighthearted fare that will keep readers glued to the end. In particular, her knack for capturing different writing styles shines the spotlight on her own talent, giving audiences clear inspiration to try their own diary or journal writing. Clearly centered on the girls while incorporating romance and fun guy personalities -- Rachel Cohn and Meg Cabot fans will eat this up. Shana Taylor
From the Publisher
The Ashbury-Brookfield pen pal program is designed to bring together the two rival schools in a spirit of harmony and "the Joy of the Envelope." But when Cassie, Lydia, and Emily send their first letters to Matthew, Charlie, and Sebastian, things don't go quite as planned. What starts out as a simple letter exchange soon leads to secret missions, false alarms, lock picking, mistaken identities, and an all-out war between the schools--not to mention some really excellent kissing.
Publishers Weekly
"Once again, Moriarty uses an epistolary format to bring to life the voices of contemporary teens in an Australian private school," said PW, of this tale that contains elements of mystery, romance and revenge. Ages 12-up. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kimberly L. Paone
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VOYA
At first glance, Emily, Cassie, and Lydia are self-absorbed, Australian private school girls enjoying a lifelong friendship and a comfortable life. When their English teacher institutes a mandatory penpal program with a nearby public school, however, the girls' correspondence with Charlie, Seb, and Matthew starts to reveal their insecurities, strengths, and strong bonds to their loved ones. Charlie, Emily, Seb, and Lydia carry on an interesting repartee, which eventually leads to crushes and dates and secret assignments. Quiet Cassie, however, still grieving the loss of her father to cancer, takes part in a very different exchange. Her penpal, calling himself Matthew Dunlap, at first refuses to write, and then sucks Cassie into a web of lies with nearly devastating results. Emily and Lydia eventually come to her rescue, and with the help of Charlie and Seb, the group turns the tables on Cassie's miscreant correspondent. Told entirely in letters, e-mail messages, and journal and diary entries, this story is truly an original. Although the opening pages might lead the reader to believe that they are about to enter into a world of fluff, the characters are surprisingly well developed, and teens of both genders will become caught up in the lives and adventures of these six high school students. The author artfully weaves the correspondence of the three pairs into one fluid story and includes both humor and serious food for thought. Probably best for junior high students, the lack of sexual content and language makes this book a great choice for both school and public libraries. VOYA Codes 3Q 4P J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to9). 2004, Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, 352p., Ages 12 to 15.
Claire Rosser
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KLIATT
To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2004: A wonderfully imaginative, difficult to describe novel from the author of Feeling Sorry for Celia. Basically, it is a school story, set in Australia. Three girlfriends, Em, Lyd, and Cassie, attend an all-girls high school. Their English teacher arranges a letter exchange with an English class in the local public high school, and the three girls start exchanging letters with three boys. That's the basic framework, but it hardly begins to describe what transpires—a series of "secret assignments," many of which are imaginative school pranks, some of which are flirtatious rendezvous, some of which are plots of vengeance. The three girls are highly intelligent, articulate, and imaginative. Two of the boys are as well, and the third boy deserves all the wonderfully fitting punishments the others eventually inflict on him. Cassie is the most fragile, because she and her mother are still trying to recover from the death of Cassie's father. Her friends are extremely concerned about her, and they try to protect her, even if she insists on keeping her own secrets and hiding her own vulnerability. This YA novel is told in an alternate format, since letters and e-mails tell this story: not just one person's letters, not an exchange of letters between two people, but six people writing letters in various combinations. This is intelligent fun. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Scholastic, 340p., Ages 12 to 18.
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10-Lydia, Emily, and Cassie are longtime friends who share almost everything, especially the secret assignments that they have cooked up for one another in times of need since elementary school. When their English teacher assigns them pen pals (all boys) from rival Brookfield High, they strike out on their own to connect individually with their pen friends. Sebastian, Lydia's pal, is an artist who loves soccer and is intrigued by the covert assignments that she gives him. Emily's Charlie is a lot of fun and a true sweetheart, despite a few escapades such as stealing cars. Cassie's pen pal hates her and is rude and threatening. The story-told through journal entries, letters, e-mails, and notes-chronicles a year filled with spy missions, false alarms, lock picking, and a major war between the two schools that ends with a legal battle. The adventures of the friends are funny, exciting, and, at times, poignant as they deal with problems of growing up and developing relationships. This delightful book set in Australia is full of fun, engaging characters, and important messages about friendship.-Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Like the namesake in Moriarty's bestselling Feeling Sorry for Celia (many clever references creep in), three more Aussie teens must establish pen pals at a rival public high school. This time risk-taker Lydia, self-assured Emily, and grieving, inhibited Cassie are all matched with boys who take an interest in them, resulting in dating lessons and plenty of covert operations. While Emily and Lydia's correspondence leads to romantic involvements, Cassie's mysterious, narcissistic pen pal turns cruel. It takes drastic measures, like secret assignments, to rescue Cassie from plummeting self-esteem and teach her pen pal a lesson in respect. This year of letter writing not only strengthens the girls' friendship, but also guides them to find their own resolve. This story does not feel as fresh as the author's debut, as it borrows too much from Celia, such as a variety of writing formats (letters, diaries, e-mails, guided writings in the Notebook™, etc.), a parody of lawyers instead of ad executives, and madcap adventures with equally zany resolutions. But who can resist Moriarty's biting humor? (Fiction. YA)
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