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Book Reviews of Secrets of My Suburban Life

Secrets of My Suburban Life
Secrets of My Suburban Life
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9781416925255
ISBN-10: 1416925252
Publication Date: 1/8/2008
Pages: 240
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 9

3.6 stars, based on 9 ratings
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

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GeniusJen avatar reviewed Secrets of My Suburban Life on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Just imagine living with the knowledge that J. K. Rowling, of Harry Potter fame, is responsible for your mother's death. That's the way Lauren "Ren" sees things. Her mother, a successful author in her own right, was researching for her latest book when the unthinkable happened - she was crushed by a pallet-load of Harry Potter books.

After the unfortunate accident, Ren's father decides they should leave New York City and head to the suburbs of Connecticut. Upon arriving at their new home, Ren finds herself attending an exclusive private school called Waylord. She isn't exactly welcomed with open arms. Finding friends just adds to the complications of adjusting to her mother's sudden death.

Perhaps it is her recent loss, along with an overactive imagination, that leads Ren into an unexpected situation. When she mistakenly picks up a classmate's notebook resembling her own, she learns that stuck-up, annoying Farrin is communicating in a chat room known as Sex World. The mysterious stranger appears to be an older man, and Farrin may be planning a meeting with him. The more Ren learns about this dangerous communication, the more she begins to suspect the mystery man could be someone she knows; that's when her own plan begins to take shape.

Even after revealing significant facts, author Lauren Baratz-Logsted keeps the suspense flowing in Ren's story. Teens will enjoy the twists and turns as Ren tries to get comfortable in her new surroundings, develop new friendships, and discover the identity of the mysterious FDA. In her "Author's Note," Baratz-Logsted references an interesting website with statistics showing how quickly and easily online predators can access information about potential victims. Teens are warned to be careful and to be safe.