A SNITCH IN THE SNOB SQUAD

This third installment in the Snob Squad adventures lives up to its predecessors (Define Normal, 2000, etc.) by again blending humor with depth. Twelve-year-old Jenny struggles with her weight, which results in wry self-deprecation and the keeping of a food diary that evolves into a daily journal. Jenny is the sometime leader of the Snob Squad, a mix of four slightly outcast personalities. Tension is created in school by the obvious favoritism shown to Ashley Krupps, the principal’s daughter. When money is stolen from the sixth-grade teacher’s purse the Snob Squad sets out to prove it was Ashley’s crime. Meanwhile, at home, Jenny’s family struggles to forge a stronger family bond as they begin a weekly family night; her parents begin marriage counseling and her sister, Vanessa, battles anorexia. There are numerous red herrings as more money goes missing and no one, including Jenny’s boyfriend, seems innocent. As evidence piles up against each character, neither Jenny nor the reader knows whom to blame. Even Jenny is not above suspicion. It is, however, a surprise when the culprit is finally revealed. By the close, everyone has learned that perfection is unattainable, but forgiveness, trust, and loyalty are the foundation of friendship and family. Eminently readable, it’s a story strong in plot and memorable characters while offering some powerful insights on sustaining solid relationships. Jenny’s sharp wit enlivens the story throughout. (Fiction. 8-12)