Secret Meeting by Jean Ure
| Secret Meeting by Jean Ure | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Anne Thompson
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| Summary: A lesson in Internet safety for tweens wrapped up in a story of friendship, families and learning about life. Girls of nine and over will identify with the characters and enjoy Jean Ure’s relaxed style. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 192 | Date: January 2013 |
| Publisher: Harper Collins | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9780007428038 | |
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Megan loves to read and she especially loves to read books by her very favourite author, Harriet Chance. Over the years she has collected all of Harriet’s books and as her birthday approaches Megan wonders if she will be able to buy a copy of Harriet’s latest novel with her birthday book tokens. Megan’s best friend, Annie, is determined that Megan should have a birthday she will never forget so when she meets Harriet’s daughter in an on-line chat room she decides to arrange the best birthday present ever for her friend. Megan is stunned when Annie reveals that Harriet has agreed to meet Megan and have a special birthday tea with her as part of her birthday celebrations. The two friends plot the secret meeting with care and feel sure that nothing can go wrong but when they finally meet the celebrated author Megan has an uneasy feeling that all is not as it seems. Should she have listened to her mother’s warnings about the dangers of meeting people you chat to on the Internet?
This reissue of a title in the series for tween readers by Jean Ure is likely to be very popular with its intended audience. The author manages to convey a moral message about the possible dangers of the Internet for impressionable young girls without at any point sounding preachy or patronising. The story is told by two of the characters, Megan the birthday girl and Rachel, Annie’s older and rather more streetwise sister and both girls’ voices are authentic and believable. Megan and Annie, although best friends, are very different types of girls with Annie being the more confident and feisty of the two. It is Annie’s lack of caution that can get the friends into scrapes occasionally. Megan is a more timid child and is a little overprotected by her single-parent mum however as the story reaches its climax it is Megan who gains the confidence to try and cope. I think that girls reading this story would find it easy to identify with one or other of the main characters. There is humour in the book too and Jean Ure cleverly manages to impart a valuable lesson to her readers while still telling an enjoyable and exciting tale.
Jean Ure is an author already recommended by the Bookbag for this age group and this entertaining story is another that is sure to be a hit with young teens. Thank you to Harper Collins for sending this copy of the book to the Bookbag. We also have a review of Secrets and Dreams by Jean Ure.
Among Jean Ure’s many other titles is Fortune Cookie another story about two friends who are rather different from each other. We also loved her Pumpkin Pie. Kate maryon is another excellent writer for this age group with books on similar themes. You might enjoy My Best Friend And Other Enemies by Catherine Wilkins.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Secret Meeting by Jean Ure at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Secret Meeting by Jean Ure at Amazon.com.
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