Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Review: The Secret of the Scarlet Stone by T.L Clarke



Title: The Secret of the Scarlet Stone
Series: Gabby Girls Adventures #1
Author: T. L Clarke | Author’s Website
Available: Now
Reading Level: MG/YA
Genre: Fantasy












Description from Goodreads:


Can You Help the Gabby Girls Solve the Clues? The Gabby Girls Adventure begins at the Vineswell Academy a very formal and strict elite all-girls school located just outside of upstate New York. The Gabby Girls, Gabrielle who is street-smart and very opinionated, Zora who is super-smart, Jessica who is painfully shy and a bit clumsy; and Rosalinda who is a diva and daddy's little-girl. They are drawn together by the only thing that they have in common, which is the mysterious scarlet pendant they each possess. But things seem even stranger when they find a clue that tempts them with the answer to the question they have longed to know. This unlikely bunch struggle to navigate through solving clue-after-clue. Each clue brings them closer to the key to unlocking their future and the answer to the mysterious deaths of their mothers. After all, Gabby Girls always stick together and everyday is an.........Gabby Girls Adventure! 


My thoughts:


The Secret of the Scarlet Stone introduces us to four brand new students at the prestigious girls school, Vineswell Academy. The four girls who happen to be roomed together quickly learn they have some very interesting things in common. When they discover a mysterious clue they begin an adventure that will change them all forever.


This is a book the tween and younger teen set will just devour. I love that the characters include four girls from greatly differing backgrounds and cultures. Two cheers for racial diversity! This leaves room for all readers to easily relate and bond with their favorites. The book begins by being told from Gabrielle’s POV. Her in your face attitude might be a little much for some readers, while others will admire her sass. Zora is the brains of the group, and seemed to provide a certain healthy balance the Gabby Girls needed. Rosalinda is beautiful and spoiled, but out of all the girls her character seemed to change the most over the course of the book. Last but not least is Jessica. She is timid and shy, but I have hope as the series progresses she will come out of her shell.


The author provided any clues waiting to be discovered at the beginning of the chapter. This gives it a very interactive feeling by allowing readers to figure out the mystery alongside the Gabby Girls. This is really a great little book especially for the middle grade crowd. Younger fans of fantasy and mysteries will have so much fun with this book. I’ll definitely recommend this series to my girls when they are older, and my friends with daughters in the 4th grade and up age group.


My rating:




Books in this series:

The Secret of the Scarlet Stone: A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel


Source: Received from the author in exchange for my honest review

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