The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney [Paperback]

Lauren Barnholdt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2007 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Devon Delaney

Mom says karma always comes around to get you, and I guess it's true. Because last summer I was a total liar, and now, right in the middle of Mr. Pritchard's third-period math class, my whole world is about to come crashing down.

That's because while Devon was living with her grandmother for the summer, she told her "summer friend," Lexi, that she was really popular back home and dating Jared Bentley, only the most popular guy at school. Harmless lies, right? Wrong. Not when Lexi is standing at the front of Devon's class, having just moved to Devon's town. Uh-oh.

Devon knows there's only one way to handle this -- she'll just have to become popular! But how is Devon supposed to accomplish that when she's never even talked to Jared, much less dated him?! And it seems the more Devon tries to keep up her "image," the more things go wrong. Her family thinks she's nuts, her best friend won't speak to her, and, as if it's not all complicated enough, Jared starts crushing on Lexi and Devon starts crushing on Jared's best friend, Luke. It all has Devon wondering -- who is the real Devon Delaney?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

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

About the Author

Lauren is also the author of Sometimes it Happens, One Night That Changes Everything, Two-Way Street and Watch Me (from Pulse), and The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney, Devon Delaney Should Totally Know Better, Four Truths and a Lie, and Rules for Secret-Keeping (from Aladdin). She lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, but you can visit her at laurenbarnholdt.com, facebook.com/laurenbarnholdt, and twitter.com/laurenbarnholdt.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416935037
• ISBN-13: 978-1416935032
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Popularity

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun for all., May 17, 2007

By 

Little D (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney (Paperback)

Fans of Lauren Barnholdt will love her newest teen book. It's all about Devon 'Devi' Delaney and her lies.

Devon went away for the summer to get away from things at home and befriended Lexi. She told Lexi a bunch of lies about how back home she's really popular and her boyfriend is Jared, the most popular guy in school. It turns out, Devon is basically a social outcast and now Lexi moves into her town and is going to her school. What's a girl to do? Lie some more to cover up lies already told. Needless to say, things get pretty messy.

It was a very cute book for all teens and I can't wait to read her next book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Review of: The Secret Life of Devon Delaney by: Bailey Ferguson, August 7, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney (Paperback)

Devon and her sister, Katie spent some time over the summer with their grandmother because their parents were thinking about getting a divorce. Over this period of time, Devon meets a girl named Lexi. They read cosmo girl magazines, and told each other there closest secrets. Devon also told Lexi that she was popular and dated only the most popular guy at school, Jared Bently. These little lies didn't sound so bad, until Lexi moved to Devon's town and was standing in the front of Devon's class.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about middle school drama. There is a good lesson to be learned from reading this book. Little lies can bring on BIG problems.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Secret Idenity of Devon Delaney, April 28, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney (Paperback)

The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney

Author: Lauren Barnholdt

It's just a little white lie you say? Well it is... until your whole school finds out and you have no one to turn to!

Devon is your average girl, just going with the flow. But over the summer when she meets someone who is the exact opposite, she does anything and everything to impress the popular Lexi. Even if it means lying... about everything. But when Lexi comes to Devon's school, she finds out that a white lie can turn into a whole lot more. All she has to do is convince her that all those lies are true. Simple you say? Yeah right!

I was drawn into the world of this book automatically and found myself completely absorbed in the shocking twists and turns of Devon's life. It was almost as if I was in the story, everything unfolding right before my eyes. I couldn't wait to find out how it would end, but every time I thought I'd figured it out, Barnholdt threw me a new catch.

You learn through the lives of these characters how important it is to just be yourself. I would recommend this book to any girl looking to find the real meaning of friendship.

-Allie M.