Below the Surface (A Code of Silence Novel)
Gr 7 Up—Four teenagers planning to spend a quiet summer together at the lake find themselves solving a murder in Shoemaker's third "Code of Silence" novel. Unfortunately, most savvy readers will solve the crime well before the characters do. Without the distraction of a well-plotted mystery, readers will notice the unrealistic dialogue and behavior of characters, and perhaps be hindered by an overabundance of description. Modern readers used to the strength and ingenuity of characters like Hermione and Katniss won't appreciate the book's portrayal of its few female characters as anxious and physically weak. While parents may appreciate the lack of sex, drugs, and cursing, this is not a book that many young teens will flock to read.—Sarah Jones, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, MI