The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney
A release from the new Mix imprint, aimed at readers between the ages of 9 and 13, this title tailors standard chick-lit themes to common tween experiences. Devon Delaney has spent the summer at her grandmother's house, where she created a more stylish, popular alter ego, based on lies she told to her new friend, Lexi. Then, on the first day of seventh grade, Devon discovers that Lexi has moved to her town and is in her class. Devon scrambles wildly to keep Lexi from discovering the truth behind her lies, spinning more elaborate stories and alienating friends in the process. Predictably, everything comes to light, and Devon must repair the damage that she has caused. There's plenty of focus on boyfriends, makeup, clothes, and "the A List" crowd, but at the heart of the story is Devon's struggle to work through insecurities and be a good friend. The dialogue feels clichéd, but readers just entering adolescence will easily connect with the drama of friendships and first romances, all balanced against Devon's realistic, loving family life. Engberg, Gillian