The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

Ashbury High English teach Mr. Botherit is seriously mistaken if he thinks that the Ashbury-Brookfield pen pal program will bring together the two rival schools with the “Joy of the Envelope.” Best friends Lydia, Emily, and Cassie don’t plan on participating, but do so anyway for different reasons. Emily wants to get a good grade, Lydia is just messing around, and Cassie, well, is trying to get over her father’s death. But getting letters back from Sebastian, Charlie, and Matthew is the start of a new kind of exchange which leads to secret missions, Dates with a Girl, false alarms, fake identities, and quite possibly a war between the schools. Can a group of pranksters get their act together in time to help one of their own and save themselves from a world of trouble? You bet they can.

The Year of Secret Assignments is in all probability one of my most favorite books of all time. Why? Well, what’s not to like? Firstly, Moriarty hands readers a handful of clever, smart, and hilarious troublemakers. Lydia, Emily, and Cassie in particular are immensely likable in their thoughts, emotions and fears. And their exploits and lives are just so exciting. Yes, they have to deal with ordinary things such as school and families, but they make everything more interesting by doing random things like experimenting with cooking, Secret Assignments, and sneaking out of class to go to the movies (not that I’d recommend this last one). To top that off, this story is told through a series of letters, journal entries, and emails. Moriarty is certainly a bit unconventional, but it works out fabulously. Readers will be so caught up in the excitement, laughter, and yes, danger of Ashbury High that they will never want to leave.

The Year of Secrets Assignments will be enjoyed by fans of The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, also by Jaclyn Moriarty, and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from personal collection