Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne

After the death of her mother, Cecelia must go live in the small California town of Seaview with her grandmother Maura, a well known mystery novelist. Maura's first novel was based on a real murder in the town, and the subsequent movie was even filmed there. Since then, Maura's fame has attracted fans from all over the world to Seaview. Cecelia barely knows her grandmother and has never read any of her books. 

Cecelia is quickly befriended by the top tier people in her new school and learns much about the town's history. Being the granddaughter of the most famous resident gives her surprising notoriety. Sadly, one the girls in her new circle is murdered in a near copy cat of the first murder. In both, the high school girls were found in the school swimming pool on the night of homecoming. One had been crowned homecoming queen and the other wanted to be. 

Cecelia becomes obsessed with finding the murderer even at the risk of getting in trouble with the sheriff. She also begins to doubt if the real killer was found in the first murder. 

This small town known for murder is full of deception and secrets. Cecelia checks motives and alibis and finds almost everyone in town is a suspect including her friends.  It's a fascinating story with twists and surprises. I keep reading teen suspense books, and I really liked this one. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 
 

This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey

Jess has a normal life. She lives in a small town that she has never left. She is a decent student with close friends. There is a guy she likes who might like her, too. Her life isn't perfect. Her sister is practically bedridden with a rare disease. Her parents...what teen doesn't have issues with their parents? Overall, things are good. 

It's all fake. Jess is the star of a reality show all about her life. She doesn't know it, though. Everyone else does. They are all actors. As far as Jess knows, she is living life as a typical 90s teenager. In reality, Jess lives on a closed compound in the distant future. 

Jess starts to see cracks in the system - not that she could ever guess what is really happening. She starts asking questions and hearing things that don't make sense. The moment she comes home to find her beloved dog has been replaced by a look alike that does not behave the same, she knows she is being lied to. She just doesn't know how big the lie is. 

Imagine if your life was a lie. Everyone you knew was lying to you and had been lying to you for years. They were pretend players in your life. What a cruel joke. Jess should be justifiably angry and be able to walk away from this 'entertainment' program. Except, the show is hugely popular. The future world is pretty bleak, and this show is the only bright light for some. Also, it makes lots of money for a lot of people. The producers of the show are not going to let Jess just quit. 

Fascinating story with themes that will resonate with readers who live in today's world

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle I. Mason

For 25 years, Jenny's airplane was lost.  To the world, the plane just disappeared. For the passengers, no time passed. One minute, it was 1995; the next they were landing in 2020. And no one had aged a day. Jenny's friends and family mourned as life went on. 

Now, teenage Jenny has entered a world almost completely unfamiliar to her. Her parents are old; her younger brother is older than her (and married); her best friend is a middle age mother. And what is with all the technology? Phones you carry everywhere; huge televisions screens; the internet. 

This story is mix of light suspense, a tiny bit of science fiction, and realistic fiction/romance as Jenny adjusts to her new life. The plane's passengers and crew are in danger from groups and forces who think the entire thing is a hoax. They are also celebrities having been discussed, investigated, and written about for 25 years. It is a lot for Jenny (the only underage passenger) to process. 

The more I read, the more intrigued I became with the idea. Everyone on the plane leaped ahead, time traveling. Jenny acts like the teenager she still is. She just spoke to her best friend a few hours ago while her friend hasn't seen her in 25 years. Jenny can't understand some of the things that have happened, and reacts rashly. She can't confide in her friend or even relate to her because the time between them. 

There is a lot happening in this book, and it really could have gone in lot of directions. Overall, there was a good balance. The focus on Jenny's interpersonal relationships is welcome and the most interesting aspect of the story. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.  

 

14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph

Jessica's mother was murdered by the serial killer the Magpie Man. She was his first victim. Several years later, Jessica is now a teenager and lives with her father in the same house they have always lived in located not far from the crime scene. Her dad inhabits the house but doesn't really live anymore. Her mom's pictures are everywhere. And the killer is still out there. 

Jessica wants to find him - for her mom but also just to stop him from killing. He's killed every nine months starting with Jessica's mother. So Jessica does something totally out of character - she applies to be on an online reality show that follows the lives of five teens, each one for a whole day once a week. Maybe someone with more information will come forward or maybe the killer will see the show and face what he's done. 

To Jessica's surprise, the show is a competition. Is her story compelling enough to get enough views? What if she is kicked off before she gets any usable information? That along with the new found fame adds a lot of pressure. And someone is definitely watching her.

This fast paced story with short chapters moves quickly. Jessica discovers things she never expected. Trust is difficult when so many become suspects. I would say more, but I don't want to give too much away. 

I really enjoyed this one. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library website.

Switch by A.S. King

A.S. King books are difficult to describe. The stories exist in a world similar to reality but always with some impossible element that is treated as mostly normal. And there are several in this one. The first being that time stopped several months ago - for everyone. Not that everyone and everything is frozen in place. Time just stopped - no moving clocks or watches. So many questions, but best to accept it and move on. 

Truda's life is literally upside down (like sometimes her house rotates). Again, best to just roll with it. Her mother left and her father is not handling it well. He cooks and builds. He builds boxes within boxes to cover the switch on the wall in the house. Truda lives in one of the boxes and so does her older brother. Their sister is never in the story but has caused so much pain that she is central to the narrative. 

The world is not right. Truda spends her time in school in a group trying to find ways to restart time - the group's focus is psychology. She joins the track team and becomes a javelin thrower. She hangs out with her friend Carrie. Mostly normal, but not really. Time stopping has messed up everything in her life. 

I enjoy A.S. King books. They are odd enough to keep me interested without going too far. Even when they are difficult to visualize, I know there is a point being made. Like the characters are living in a giant metaphor. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

In the 1938, the glamour of Hollywood is in full swing. But Kate does not want to be there. And when gets there, it is certainly not all that glamorous. Kate would rather be in San Francisco living with her aunt and going to school where she dreams of being an astronomer (not a normal career for a woman in that time). 

Yet, here is Kate off to live with her grandfather, dashing film star of the silent movie era. Her parents are dead (an event that will haunt her for the rest of her life), and her aunt is marrying some man who despises Kate. Her grandfather's career is long over, so she finds him living in his run down mansion taking in boarders (wannabe actors, mostly) to make some money. 

Kate knows a proper young lady cannot live with bunch of strange men, but at first she has little choice. Her grandfather (who hasn't left the house in years) is happy to have her stay so he can know her better. And the boarders aren't so bad; in fact, two of the young men are quite handsome and charming in their own ways. 

As things start to look up, Kate finds one of the boarders stabbed to death in the kitchen. She finds herself suspecting everyone, so she becomes an amateur sleuth hoping not to get caught by the killer who may be living under the same roof. 

The focus of the story is the murder, but it is more than just a murder mystery. The old Hollywood setting is cool. Through Kate, we see that behind the scenes Hollywood is not so magical. There are several story lines happening that help elevate the characters beyond stereotypes. Kate could easily have been written as a snob (the refined woman forced to live below her standards), but she is more unsure of herself and where she belongs. Really interesting characters and story that keeps moving. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

The Truth App by Jack Heath

Jarli has created an app that can detect whether someone is telling truth. Is that why someone rammed a truck into his dad's car while they were in it? Does it have something to do with his dad's security job? As the story begins, Jarli has no time to think about the reason. He only knows the truck that just hit them is headed their way to do it again.    

While his dad is in the hospital, Jarli's app is making news around the world. He only put it out so fellow programmers could test it, but now everyone (including the news media) seems to be using it. Classmates are not happy since teachers and parents are using it, too. If it weren't for Jarli's best friend Bess and the new girl Anya, Jarli would be facing the world alone.         

And Jarli is facing a lot. No adults believe someone purposely caused the accident, so the truck driver is still on the loose and is still trying to kill Jarli (He has no idea why). Reporters are camped out in front of Jarli's house shouting questions whenever he leaves. 

This book is non-stop from beginning to end. I thought I would be reading a wacky story about a truth app that causes chaos in the daily life of a high schools student. This story is a mystery, action filled ride with Jarli finding danger at every turn. Shooting, kidnapping, fire and mind games all add up to a quick read. As the cover indicates, there are more books to come. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Spin by Colleen Nelson

Dizzy wants to be a DJ. Her life has been surrounded by music. She lives with her dad and brother above their a vintage record store. She has been practicing her skills at the DJ stand in the corner of the store, but has never performed for an audience.

Her brother, Lou, doesn't know what he wants, but he knows it is not to spend the rest of his life working in a record store. He wishes he had Dizzy's drive, but currently he just feels adrift.

Their father, Ray, likes playing his sax and jamming with his friends. He likes the store and even though he is old fashioned in his thinking, he lets Lou start social media accounts for the store to attract new customers and to sell records online.

None of them are ready for the return of Georgia Waters, world famous singer and the mother of Dizzy and Lou. She left Ray when they were just children to pursue her career. She has only visited once in the last 12 or so years. She is coming to town for a concert. Will she even make an effort to see her grown children?

No one knows that Georgia is Lou and Dizzy's mother (outside of a few family friends) - it's the way she wanted it. And Ray has been happy not having the attention it would bring his children. Lou is angry at Georgia and doesn't care if she visits or not. Ray is indifferent, but may still have strong feelings for Georgia even though she left him to raise their children. Dizzy is curious and wants contact with her mother in hopes of getting answers.

One thing I love about this story is that we get the perspectives of Dizzy, Lou and Ray. Each get their own chapters throughout the book. We know what the are thinking and feeling. Yes, Dizzy is the center of the story, but Lou and Ray have their own parts to tell. This allows for the characters to be better developed, and the reader to be emotionally connected to them.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Going Off Script by Jen Wilde

Lately, I have read several books with strong young women characters who are tired of being pushed around and decide (although often reluctantly) to fight back even if it means sacrificing something important to them. And so we have Bex.

Bex arrives in Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being a television writer. She has grown up poor in a small town in Washington. She has landed an internship on her favorite show Silver Falls (full of teens and werewolves). Some aspects of the job are amazing - working with the show's stars, seeing the sets and possibly meeting her first love. Other things...Well, Hollywood is a tough place sometimes. The show runner, Malcolm, is moody and uptight and has no respect for interns. He is, however, willing to take the script Bex wrote and put his name on it. Ya, he is a major jerk of unspeakable proportions.

Included with the tension of her new job, Bex is struggling to come out to her cousin, Parker, who she is staying with. He is gay, too, but she doesn't want to appear to be imitating him (as she has been accused in the past). The fact that she has never come out to anyone only adds to her nervousness. But this is LA, and she's away from home. And there is this stunningly beautiful social media star that Bex meets at a party. Could Bex ever hope to have the Shrupty Padwal as her first girlfriend?

Fighting for your dreams is hard, as Bex finds out. She has people who support her, so she is not as alone as she sometimes feels. After all, you can't change the world all by yourself.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum

Abbi survived the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. That day was Abbi's first birthday. She is Baby Hope captured in a famous photograph holding a red balloon and being carried by a fleeing woman. That photo has become a symbol of hope.

But Abbi is not really Baby Hope. She was that baby, but now she is 15 and does not feel connected to the photo. At this point in her life, she just wants to put it behind her.

Noah wants to know more about that day. He is interested in the other people in the photo who are running in the back ground. He feels it is fate that he and Abbi end up working at the same summer camp as counselors. Maybe he can get her to help him find the others and interview them. Her involvement will give his project credibility. Noah's best friend Jack thinks the whole idea is stupid.

Told in the alternating voices of Abbi and Noah, we learn how each is coping with the day that changed the world. Will Abbi get the illness that has already taken so many 9/11 survivors? Why is Noah so interested in the other people? Why does his mom never talk about his dad who died in the attack that day?

Those of us old enough to remember September 11 do not need reminders. But younger people should know what happened that day and understand why the aftermath will reverberate for generations. This story does a good job of bringing the horror and sadness of the day without recreating the actual events. Readers can experience the personal loss through these characters.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

All of This is True by Lygia Day Penaflor

Imagine if your favorite author wrote a book based on your life. How would that even happen? Maybe the author moves to your town and lets you hang out with her. That would be amazing...unless the book was less than positive and exposed things about you and your friends that you didn't want everyone to know.

So this story gets a little confusing because at some point there is a book within a book within this book. Three friends (Miri, Penny and Soleil) fall in love with a book by Fatima Ro. After meeting her at a book signing, Fatima invites them to a book talk she is giving at coffee house. Of course, they go and that's when the real connection starts. Fatima invites them to her house, and it becomes a regular hang out for the girls.

I have to mention Jonah who was right along with the girls the whole time. He just moved to their school and was a new member of the group. He said he had never read Fatima's book, so he bought one for her to sign.

So Fatima's book becomes a guide for living for the girls. They start a group at a school to talk about the book and live by it's themes and quotes. Fatima totally encourages all of it. Fatima has a way to reach these young people so they reveal more about themselves. This is particularly true with Jonah who had to leave a very unpleasant situation at his old school. It seems Fatima is also good at manipulating people.

The story is told through interviews, blog posts and excerpts from Fatima's new book (the one based on Miri, Penny, Soleil and Jonah). The girls' friendship is sacrificed for Fatima to get her story. The structure itself (although sometimes confusing) makes the story unfold in a fascinating way.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil

Would you watch a brutal execution online? If you knew the person being killed was a convicted murderer, would that make a difference? If the government decided to build a 24 hour reality 'show' around inmates trapped on an island (Alcatraz 2.0) where they could be killed at anytime by one of the sanctioned executioners, would you watch? If the executioners all played a character who kills in their own unique style, would you? In this story, millions do watch. In this story, Dee never watched the show but she ends up on the island fighting for her life.

Years after Dee was kidnapped and escaped, her sister was killed in their home. Dee was wrongfully convicted of the murder and finds herself waking up in the maze of Prince Slycer, one of the executioners on Alcatraz 2.0. How did this nightmare come to life?

The Postman, the mysterious unseen man who created the prison and show with the full cooperation of the Justice Department, controls everything: who is killed when and by whom. The inmates live openly but are surrounded by cameras recording their every move. The executioners and inmates have online followers. No one dies off camera.

When Dee survives her first encounter with a killer, she becomes an instant celebrity and the person on the island with a target on her back. No one is supposed to survive a face off with one of the killers. That's not how Alcatraz 2.0 works. Can Dee trust the other inmates to help her survive until she can prove she was framed for her sister's murder?

A little mystery, some graphic violence and a little romance make for a quick read. Recommended for the twisted premise if for nothing else.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Game Theory by Barry Jonsberg

Jamie loves math. Recently, he has become interested in game theory, the strategy of determining your opponent's actions. He practices it with his clever, precocious younger sister, Phoebe.

Jamie's older sister, Summerlee, buys a lottery ticket on her 18th birthday and wins 7.5 million dollars. Already rebellious, the money causes her to break free of her family. Against her parents' advice, Summerlee lets the world know that she won and goes on a spending spree.

One day when Jamie and Phoebe go to the grocery store together, Phoebe is kidnapped. The sudden horror and remorse Jamie feels is gut wrenching. Phoebe is the best of the family. Even Summerlee who can be nasty to anyone is never cross with Phoebe.

Is the kidnapping related to Summerlee's sudden financial windfall? No one knows for sure, but they do know that the kidnapper(s) will only speak with Jamie. Maybe he can use game theory to outwit the kidnapper and get Phoebe back. But dealing with the kidnapper without the police is a risk.

This is a story filled with tension and suspense. So if you are looking for something with some mystery that is a little different, check this one out.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Eliza has created a monster - actually several of them. She is the writer/artist of a hugely popular online fantasy graphic novel called Monstrous Sea. But only a small group of people know she is the creator.

Eliza's two younger brothers know, but (annoying as they are to her) don't tell anyone. Her parents think Monstrous Sea is just a hobby, and have no idea how popular it is or that Eliza makes tons of money from it. Eliza has two online friends (who she has never actually met) who moderate her message boards, run the online store, etc. That's all the people who know.

Having no interest in physical activities like sports (much to her parents' frustration) or friends from school (her parents aren't too happy about that either), Eliza devotes most of her time to Monstrous Sea. She knows there are many fans even in her school, but she keeps to herself so she never interacts with them. That ends the day she steps in to help a new student, Wallace.

Wallace is the size of a football player and never says anything. It is only through passing notes that Eliza finds out that he writes Monstrous Sea fan fiction. His friends are huge fans, too. But Eliza can't reveal who she is to them. She wants to tell Wallace but how will he react?

The secrets, the expectations of fans, her parent's lack of understanding all put much pressure on Eliza. She truly has created a monster that could consume her if she lets it.

It is a interesting story about dealing with online fame and privacy. Who does an artist create for - herself or the public? Explore this question with Eliza as she deals with the regular stress of being a teenager - it's worth it.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis

In the future, everything has a cost. Literally, every word spoken must be paid for. You can speak all you want until you turn 15. Then you are given a wrist band that records all the money you owe (it also tracks you and your activities). If you are poor, you hope you can get some sponsors that will provide you with food or other needs. But you may get sued (it happens swiftly and often) and owe so much that you get taken way to be an indentured servant in some horrible job you will never escape from.

Speth lives with her sister and brother in a tiny apartment (created with 3-D printers). Their parents were taken when their debt became too big. Speth is preparing to turn fifteen and make her official speech (sprinkled with references to sponsors) in front of friends. But something happens just before she reaches the stage that changes her life. In a last minute decision, she decides she will no long talk. No speech. No sponsors. No words. No gestures (since most cost money, too).

Powerful people take notice of Speth. Words are currency and if you refuse to speak, the system begins to crack. At their own risk, some people choose to join Speth in her silence. She never intended to start a movement. If she can't speak, how can Speth protect her sister (who loses her job because she looks like a famous actress and is thus infringing on her copyright) and her brother who has yet to turn 15.

When you lose the ability to speak, you lose the ability to speak out. At least that is what the people in power must think because the never counted on a girl choosing to be silent becoming the voice of the oppressed. There are others in society who are more than willing to help Speth fight the system.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin

It's 1956 and Hitler is still alive. The Axis Powers (Germany, Japan and Italy) won World War II. The current resistance could start a true uprising and bring the Third Reich to an end if Hitler could be killed. Unfortunately, he rarely appears in public.

There is one hope: Yael could be the one to kill Hitler. She is the only one who can get close enough to do it. Every year, an intercontinental motorcycle race is run pitting the best riders from each country. The winner is celebrated at the Victor's Ball attended by Hitler himself. Last year's winner (and only female racer) Adele Wolfe danced with him.

Due to vicious experiments in a concentration camp, Yael can change her appearance at will. She will become Adele and take her place in this year's race. She must win against the best, so she can get close enough to Hitler to shoot him.

The race is grueling: fighting with other riders, battling the elements, facing mechanical breakdowns, thwarting sabotage. And then there is Luka, another rider who was a love interest of Adele's. Can Yael trust him? Is he flirting or just waiting for a chance to take her out of the race.

Add to all of this Adele's brother, Felix, who joins the race to keep an eye on his sister. Can Yael fool  him and the other's who know Adele so well? Yael has endured much already in her life, so she is ready for this challenge.

It is a drama filled, action packed alternate history. I am ready to jump into the sequel for the rest of the story.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Warcross by Marie Lu

Emika needs money to pay three months back rent or she and her roommate will get kicked out on the the street. Since the death of her father, the fastest way for her to make a lot of money is bounty hunting. Using her hacking skills she can hunt down a person who is not dangerous enough for the over worked police to find themselves. It's a tough job, but it pays well.

She hunts her latest shortly before the start of the International Warcross Tournament. Warcross is a interactive three dimensional virtual reality game that has swept the globe. Everyone can play, but only a few are professionals who play in the annual tournament.

Emika could never dream of being in the tournament due to her criminal record. Also, her ranking in Warcross is never high because she plays often under a different name. As the tournament begins, she decides to hack in to get a valuable power-up in the game and sell it. It is a decision that thrusts her into the international spotlight and gets the attention of Hideo, the game's creator. Emika has idolized Hideo for years. Now, she may get to meet him in person.

Emika's hunting and hacking skills may be just what Hideo needs to find someone else hacking the virtual world he created. The best way to do that...put Emika in the tournament.

This incredible story exists in a bleak world where most of the planet is caught up in Warcross. The technology is believable enough that it seems possible and may not be that far into the future. I recommend going along with Emika as she becomes immersed in the dangers of the game and the real world.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Cuckoo by Keren David

Jake is an actor on the incredibly popular soap opera, Market Square. In one episode, his character Riley goes up the stairs to his bedroom and never comes back down. Jake (and Riley) are left in limbo. Will his character ever return to the show? The producers keep telling him they haven't decided. Jake, now 16, has been playing Riley since he was a child. So what is he supposed to do?

Jake decides to shoot video episodes of his own life and post them on the internet to let the world know why his missing character ultimately led to the end of the show (yes, the show was pulled off the air!). Some fans just want to know what was going to happen to other characters, but Jake has a story that goes beyond his character Riley.

Jake wants to be an actor, so he keeps going to auditions. He is not just desperate to get his career on track but to financially assist his family. Three years ago, Jake's dad lost his job. His mental state has become increasingly unraveled in the months that Jake has been off the show. Jake's older brother, Adam, is severely autistic, a situation that strains everyone. Their mom works some, but the family is in a financial crisis. Eventually, Jake cannot take it anymore and leaves home.

We follow the story through the episodes with Jake's fellow actors taking the parts of his family and friends. This is not about a famous actor losing his job, but a deeper look at a family that has spiraled out of control. And it is told very well.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Holmes and Watson must solve the mystery before the killer catches up to them. No, not Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (they are long dead). This is Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson, decedents of the famous crime solving team. Through coincidence (or is it?), they both end up at a private school in Connecticut. Watson knew of Charlotte, of course, but had never met her.

The death of a classmate finds them awkwardly paired. Jamie must adjust to Charlotte's unusual habits and eccentricities. From birth she has been trained in the Holmes tradition of crime solving and all the goes with it (observation, forensics, interrogation). Although the Holmes and Watson families have shared history, Jamie's mother has tried to keep him away from the Holmes'.

But once Jamie follows Charlotte through the dead student's window to examine the crime scene, there is no going back. Jamie is completely immersed in Charlotte's world. Adding another level of intrigue, the crime (and the ones that follow) mimics the stories of the original Holmes and Watson.

I have never been a reader of Sherlock Holmes (other than a few in high school), so I do not know how closely the characters of Charlotte and Jamie resemble their famous ancestors. I do know that there is enough mystery (mixed with teen angst) to keep the pages turning.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

The Truth Commission by Susan Juby

Almost by accident, Normandy, Dusk and Neil start a movement to find the truth. They ask the questions everyone wants to know but are afraid to ask. Why did Aimee have plastic surgery over the summer? Is Tyler Jones gay? But how do you get the answers - you go right to the person of interest and ask them.

Normandy, Dusk and Neil attend the Green Pastures Academy of Art and Applied Design. It is a unique school that allows students to focus on different aspects of art. Neil is a painter (of the female form). He also likes to dress as characters from classic 60s and 70s movies. Dusk is currently working on taxidermy. She is the most effortlessly beautiful girl in the school. Normandy is a writer who is famous for being portrayed in her sister Keira's hugely popular graphic novel.

Normandy is uncomfortable asking others about their secrets because she has enough of her own family secrets (like how her sister has left college in California but won't tell anyone why including her agent). Normandy's family has always revolved around her sister's gifts and talents, so as long as Keira is working on her novel her parents will not do anything to upset her.

Normandy tells the story in a paper (aka the book itself) she is writing (complete with footnotes) for her Spring Special Project. She includes all the humor and drama that is her life: her sister's breakdown and her friend's quest for the truth that becomes bigger than all of them.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.