Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com

Bindy Mackenzie--student extraordinaire and perfectionist--is the heroine in this follow-up novel to Moriarty's FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA and THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS.

Bindy is thrown when she is placed in FAD--Friendship and Development class. It doesn't make any sense! Who would rip away her study period so thoughtlessly? And what could she possibly learn from the other students in her class?

But could Bindy actually be so perfect that someone wants to kill her? And if so, the only people who can figure out who the perp is in time are the classmates that Bindy underestimated and alienated.

Laugh-out-loud funny, Moriarty doesn't disappoint. Full of her trademark intricate plot twists, quick wit, and told entirely in transcripts, journal entries, and letters, this novel gives a perfectly honest portrayal of teen life that is appropriate for even younger readers. Bindy Mackenzie will keep you guessing. ( )

The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is an intriguing book by Jaclyn Moriarty. Bindy is a normal teenage girl who has it all figured out, she holds a 99.9% grade average, and even shares the wealth with her fellow students by peer tutoring. When Bindy is forced to join a FAD (Friends and Developement Project) group that she doesn't see time for she is miffed. Who really wants to have to sit around and talk to a bunch of people that you'e way better than? Not Bindy Mackenzie. But Bindy never does anything half way. Through a lot of effort she forces herself to see on the same level as her peers and learns a good deal about herself that she never knew. Meanwhile Bindy is slowly being murdered and the FAD group bands together to find out who's behind this heinous crime in the process the students go from hating eachother to loving one another and Bindy learns the true meaning of friendship. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is a touching yet hilarious novel. The writng is very easy to understand and very intriguing as well.

http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )

I'm really liking Jaclyn Moriarty. She does that letter, diary entry style novel I enjoy so much. This one was hard to put down. It turned out to be not at all the book I thought it was going to be.

Bindy Mackenzie is really annoying but very bright and when a new teacher comes on board and starts a program similar to advisory, she decides its her job to let the others know their faults. Obviously, shes not very popular but when it becomes apparent that she is slowly being murdered the others in the group set out to determine who is behind it. ( )