Secrets in the Shadows

Sixteen-year-old Roylin Bailey has had it tough – his father was abusive and left the family with nothing, his mother works hard to try and support Roylin and his four siblings, and people at school treat him like he’s a loser. But a new girl at school is showing interest in him and to pay for an expensive gift for her, Roylin steals money and sets off a course of events that turn his life into a nightmare. Anne Schraff’s “Secrets in the Shadows” is the third book in the Bluford High series, a line of literature designed for kids with low reading skills but a high interest in learning (i.e. hi-lo). The story does well to maintain a manageable vocabulary while keeping the plot interesting and action-packed – enticing show more reluctant readers to push through to the end. The characters are well-developed and three-dimensional; very few are just one thing and many have hidden traits that are revealed as the plot progresses. Schraff expertly navigates around complicated issues presented by her audience by maintaining the innocence of her young characters while dealing with the very gritty realities of their lives. The thoughtful, realistically-portrayed teen male main character should appeal to boy readers, too. Recommended for ages 14-18. show less

Roylin Bailey only wanted to get his crush, Korie Archer, what she wanted to woo her but now, he is in a lot of trouble. He “borrows” money from his neighbor, Mr. Miller, intending to return the money little by little. However, he finds out from Tuttle, the apartment manager, that Mr. Miller died of shock that he was robbed. Now Roylin is in a lot of trouble and it will prove harder to get out of it. The story is very fast paced and used everyday language. To make it more relatable to readers, the characters use street-slangs when they are talking. The chapters are short to make sure that readers can get to the end of each chapter. However, each chapter also ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, keeping the readers captive and curious show more to continue reading. The book does not use a lot of descriptions but it gives the readers just enough to understand what is going on.

This book is a part of a series that deals with everyday issues that happens in urban life. This particular book tells a story about a boy who does whatever to get the girl of his dreams but struggles with the fact that it cost him his friend’s life. The suspense will keep the readers at the edge of their seat until the very end. This will be a great addition for both libraries and classrooms. show less

I enjoyed this one also, it shows some of the issues that teenagers have and how even thou they think they are all different in alot of ways they are the same.

Loved It.

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