From School Library Journal
Grade 4–7—Zoë Monday Costello has a talent for giving stellar advice to her classmates and teachers. Then she gets the chicken pox, and when she returns to school, sixth-grader Devon Sweeney has moved in on her territory, angling to become "the Devon Lama." He seems to be every ounce of perfection that Zoë is not, and the seventh grader must use all of her tricks and know-how to bring the usurper down. Naturally, she learns that sometimes, in the name of compassion and understanding, you need to know when to fold 'em and help out a fellow classmate. In this sequel to
The Invisible Rules of the Zoë Lama (Dutton, 2007), Cohen demonstrates that she can create a spunky and sassy character. Zoë is a hoot, and her friends and her Internet-savvy "g-ma" provide amusement galore. The photographs, doodlelike illustrations, and chapter titles add even more zing. Along with the laughs, Zoë also has real concerns and fears: Will moving out of her apartment cause the memories of her late father to fade? Should she be thankful for what she has and just let go of her ill feelings for Devon? The story has a message but it's tempered by the humor. Recommend this stand-alone title to your feisty tween girls and hope that good karma will deliver another Zoë Lama adventure in the future.—
Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Tish Cohen is the author of the adult novel
Town House. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
