The Book of Dares for Lost Friends

Reviewed by: Kris Zuidema - Retired school librarian, Standish, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 11, 2016

Review

Val and Lanora are best friends until they start middle school. Val feels left behind as Lanora decides she wants to hang out with the "A" crowd. It doesn't take long before Lanora finds herself in serious trouble. With the help of some new friends Val looks for a way to save Lanora. This novel set in Manhattan has a magical twist involving a black cat and ancient Egypt. At times I found the story difficult to follow, but the interesting characters make this an enjoyable read. The combination of realistic fiction and fantasy works well. This story of friendship will appeal to readers looking for a unique story. This book may also be useful for discussions on bullying. I recommend this novel for upper elementary and early middle school readers.

Overall Book Score: very good