Amanda in New Mexico

August 1, 2017

Gr 3-6-In this sixth title of the series, Amanda finds herself on a class trip to Taos, NM, along with nine other sixth-grade students from her elementary school in Calgary, Canada. Each student is tasked with using their artistic talent (writing, photography, sketching) to enrich their experience. Amanda, the writer, does not believe in ghosts, yet her roommate Cleo's apprehensions about the old hotel in which they are staying, the Mabel Dodge Luhan House, and her insistence that someone is watching them, leaves Amanda unsettled. Another classmate, Caleb, brings humor to the plot with his antics. The author intersperses facts about New Mexico along the way, opening the door for readers who want to know more about the state's rich culture and fascinating history. It is obvious that much research was put into making this book historically accurate. VERDICT Newcomers to the series might find the development of the story slow and lacking in action, but fans of the "Amanda Travels" books will likely enjoy themselves as they explore a piece of the Southwestern United States.-Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX

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