I love love Moriarty. But "A Year of Secret Assignments" is still my favorite. This one has the same wit and empathy in a series of letters (yes, an entire book in ONLY letters and emails) but with far fewer characters; more personal yet somehow less funny. ( )

Full review at http://yannabe.com/2009/06/06/review-...

Summary: Elizabeth Clarry’s best friend just ran away to join the circus, and her absentee father suddenly wants to spend quality time with her. So when Elizabeth’s English teacher starts a pen pal program with another school, she has a lot to say.

Review: I had a blast reading this hilarious book. Here’s a little snippet for you:

Mum,

I’m going to run over to Saxon Walker’s place and we’re going to train [for the 10K] together. He’s a guy from my school who catches my bus. He lives on Foxall Road. His mother’s the local councilor so you probably met her when you did your rollerblading protest.

Love,
Elizabeth

***

Elizabeth!!!

Who is this Saxon Walker? Is he Carolyn Walker’s son?

If he is, his mother is a demon from hell! Whatever you do, stay out of their house. If you see her in the distance, don’t smile at her. Just scowl.

Love,
Mum

***

Mum,

It’s too late. Saxon and I went for a run together and then he invited me back to his place for coffee.

His mother was quite polite for a demon from hell and she gave me a piece of carrot cake. I didn’t scowl at her at all. You always said before that I should smile and say thank you to my friends’ mothers. You are giving me confused and contradictory messages.

Love,
Elizabeth

So after this book and Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca, I’ve decided I want to become Australian. They’re a funny lot. Or if they won’t have me, I would settle for being British like the marvelous Jenny Valentine. (btw, if you know anything about the process for changing one’s nationality, please let me know!)

This book was a perfect depiction of the push/pull a teenage girl feels between letting herself get excited about something (like a cute boy paying attention to her) and thinking she’s not good enough for it.

And the ending was brilliant. ( )

i read this in one night it was so good, I love moriatry's works (year of secret assignments, the death of bindie mackenzie) I love how it's written all in letter with several different plots that fit together nicely ina really laugh out loud way. ( )

I like how it's written entirely in letters. I really did laugh out loud several times while reading, which is fun to do. ( )

In Moriarty's three books (Feeling Sorry for Ceclia, The Year of Secret Assignments, and The Murder of Bindy MacKenzie) she focuses on a few girls from the same high school. In Feeling Sorry for Celia -- I liked seeing the world through Elizabeth Clarry, and all of the quirky characters around her. Its written in letters from Elizabeth's private school English class to a girl in the local public school. Very clever and witty book. ( )