The Year of Secret Assignments

February 2, 2004
Once again, Moriarty (Feeling Sorry for Celia
) uses an epistolary format to bring to life the voices of contemporary teens. Best friends Lydia, Emily and Cassie attend Ashbury, an Australian private school. Their "year of secret assignments" begins when their English teacher pairs them with pen pals from neighboring Brookfield High, a rougher school where students "have more tattoos and prison time." Although the girls are a bit wary about writing to strangers, their correspondence with boys their age spawns some interesting, often hilarious exchanges of confidences that lead to a series of clandestine meetings and daring escapades. Lydia and Emily form solid bonds with their pen pals, Seb and Charlie, but more vulnerable Cassie has trouble relating to her partner, a mysterious, cynical boy named Matthew, who (according to Seb and Charlie) does not exist. This energetic novel reveals the author's keen understanding of teen dynamics and invites audience members to read between the lines to discover what makes each character tick. Containing elements of mystery, espionage, romance and revenge, Moriarty's story will likely satisfy hearty appetites for suspense and fun. Ages 12-up.

A cast of performers gives convincing portraits of a range of teen emotions. Using the convention of letters exchanged between two very different groups of kids, the story revolves around an English assignment between two rival schools, one snotty and highbrow (the girls) and one with a rep for lowlifes (the boys). While testing each other's limits with secret assignments, the girls, who are best friends, and the boys from across town come to know and, unexpectedly, like each other. It must be said that the story contains adult language and themes, but overall it offers a refreshingly original story line, great humor, and a thoughtful message. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine