Customer Reviews

The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Well the book is well written. I would like to recemended it to kids who are in middle school or 4th grade. I am an advanced reader so for me it was fine. People who are in middle school could probably realate to it the most. Trying to fit in by lying, liking the boys and much more.It talks about that if you lie something bad may happen. It also talks about the different kind of friends there are. One kind is like the character kim. Shes not really a friend. Another one is like lexi.shes a friend but seems like she likes deven because she's popular. The last kind of friend is like Melissa. That's one of the best friends you could have. It was one of my favorite books. It has a great point. The characters all have different personalities and I think that's good. Out of 5 stars I would give it 5 stars! The author made it very intresting. Also if 1 problem got fixed another 1 would come along. That made it more fun to read. So if you're looking for a book to read and you're in 4th grade or middle school read this book.

Lying has never been familiar territory for thirteen-year-old Devon "Devi" Delaney. Sure, the seventh grader has always had a relationship with white lies. You know, like telling her grandmother that she makes the best spaghetti sauce, or not informing her pal, Nicole, that you could totally see her underwear through her skirt at the sixth-grade dance last year. But those were different. Those weren't lies that could slowly bury you. They were simply told to make the person feel more at ease. Unfortunately, over the summer, Devon managed to take on a totally new persona known as Devi, and now she can't escape the damage "Devi" has done. Over the summer, when her parents were contemplating getting a divorce, her mother and father shipped her and her five-year-old sister Katie to their grandmother's house, where they could lounge around and relax, without getting in the middle of their parent's "counseling" sessions. Devon didn't mind, because it was during this time that her father shelled out more money than you can imagine to keep the girls quiet. Therefore, Devon decided to do a little splurging at the mall, where she picked up a whole new summer wardrobe. The clothes she chose were totally un-Devon like, so she decided that it was time for a full makeover, including shortening her name to Devi. During her Devi-phase, Devon met Lexi. A girl who was completely compatible with Devi, and didn't know the real Devon. It seemed like a good idea at the time, so Devon decided to divulge to Lexi that not only was she the most popular girl at school, but she was also dating Jared - only the hottest, most popular seventh grader at school. Lexi was in awe of Devi, and wanted to mimic her every move, and, knowing that she wouldn't see Lexi again, Devon figured that there was no harm in pretending to be someone she wasn't. Fast forward a few months, and Devon is back in school. Her parents have settled their differences, and she's ditched her summer wardrobe of tank tops and miniskirts, reverting back to her comfy clothes - baggy jeans and big sweatshirts. Devon is sure that this is going to be another uneventful year by her best friend Mel's side, but quickly realizes that all bets are off when none other than Lexi walks through the door of Mr. Pritchard's third-period math class. Devon can't believe her eyes. Even though they've kept in touch, Lexi never mentioned that she was transferring to Devon's school, a place where Devon isn't known as "Devi," and who happens to have just one friend - the petite Mel. Devon is thrown for a loop. Lexi thinks that she's the most popular girl, and dating the most popular guy in the seventh-grade, when, in reality, Jared doesn't so much as know Devon's name. So, time for plan "secret identity." Devon must work to infiltrate the popular crowd immediately under the pseudonym Devi. This means a new hairdo, another shopping spree for fall-worthy clothes, and...making Jared her boyfriend, or at least staging a fake break-up with him. Sounds easy enough, but when Lexi manages to accomplish making her way into the A-crowd first, Devon must pray that her secret stays safe. Otherwise, she could end up the laughingstock of the school.

In every girls life, it seems that, for some reason, she wants to transform herself into someone she's not. Barnholdt took that sentiment, and wove it into a tale that was both uproariously funny and heartfelt. Devon is your typical social outcast, who doesn't think much about how she looks or dresses, and simply spends her time studying, or babysitting her younger sister, Katie. While Devon craves to be part of the "In" crowd, she seems content with her position at the bottom of the social hierarchy totem pole, yet not comfortable enough to tell Lexi the truth about her identity. While Devon is thrilled to shed her real skin, and allow Devi to emerge. She never seems comfortable with her secret life, and is always on edge, which instantly makes the reader sympathize with her predicament - even though it's obvious that she created it herself. Lexi, on the other hand, seems to be the epitome of confidence. She just oozes flair, and fun, and doesn't appear to have any inner demons rearing their ugly heads. She's definitely one of those popular girls who doesn't forget "the little people," and never loses her kindness through every ordeal thrown her way. That said, neither Lexi or Devon actually won the title of being my favorite character. That honor goes to, strangely enough, Devon's five-year-old sister, Katie. Katie is certainly one of the most adorable little sister's in the history of fiction. She's a precocious, pint-size philosopher who seems to have the answers to everything - no matter how complicated - accompanied by a heart of gold. From her first appearance within the pages of THE SECRET IDENTITY OF DEVON DELANEY, I found myself drawn to her character, and actually sought out when she would next rear her head. Her obsession with winning the Olympic gold medal, and wearing "skating warm-ups" wherever she goes is hilarious; while her ability to steal the scene from all other characters - be it Lexi, Devon, the nasty, female "In" crowd leader, Kim, or the illustrious Jared, himself. Barnholdt has done a fabulous job of giving Katie the typical bratty younger sister traits, but spices her character up by giving her a little extra pizzazz. A winning cast of characters, convincing conflict, and enough drama to make anyone salivate work together to make THE SECRET IDENTITY OF DEVON DELANEY irresistible. There's no doubt about it, the secret's out - Barnholdt's tween debut is too good to resist.

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer

The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney

Through an exciting journey of discovering self, preserving trust, and losing friends, Devon truly finds herself and who she aspires to be as a person. At the beginning of the book, she finds herself in the midst of a mess. Upon lying to a newly found summer friend, Devon is mortified when she finds out that her new friend, Lexi, who lived 80 miles away, has moved to her school. Devon realizes that she must now live her dream life, which in reality, is a life of lies. She somehow manages to fake her unrealistic life for a few weeks, only because Lexi befriends the A-list group on her first day. Lexi naturally assumes that Devon or "Devi" as she calls her, is already friends with this same group of people. After all, Devon did tell Lexi all about her best friends in this group throughout the summer. In an effort to keep Lexi from telling her lies to the entire school, Devon friends the A-list and simultaneously convinces Lexi that she and her fake boyfriend, Jared (the most popular guy in school) must maintain a secret relationship. Other lies soon spawn from this one as she then is forced into doing a school project with Jared's best friend, Luke. Luke comes over to Devon's house a few times to work on this project; however, in the mean time, develops strong feelings for Devon. After her parents find out that Luke had been over without her parent's permission, Devon soon finds herself grounded from all of her ties to communication. During this period, her secrets are revealed. Her friends no longer consider her a trustworthy friend, and worst of all, Luke is no longer interested in a girl who lies.

Though this book is quite dramatic and extravagant in some places, it is a wonderful lesson to many middle school age girls. The tone and rhythm of the book are written for the middle grades and caters to both their fears and insecurities. The message is very strong and to the point, and really encourages preteens to embrace honesty and form character. It also shows the strength of friendship and how quickly trust can be lost when not fostered carefully.

i thought this book was really predictable it was alot like other books where she likes a guy guy doesnt like her guys best friend likes her and she gets the other guy it would be a good for kids in 3 trough 5th grade

this book rox. im elven so if ur around tht age ur gonna luv it its sortta romancy hahahah luv u devi

This is a WONDERFUL BOOK Considering I am her age... Devon has an alter ego name Devi who she made up as dating the hotest A-list boy, Jared, being popular, and being a fashionista.... It seems so real life !!

I LOVE this book so much! It is a great story, and there's just something about it that I love! Buy, buy, buy!