The Secrets of Tree Taylor by Dandi Daley Mackall

Thirteen-year-old Tree Taylor has two goals for the summer of '63:

1. Experience her first real kiss. A kiss delivered by a boy. A boy who is not related to her. A kiss worth writing about. 

2. Become a famous writer. (Or, at least, write an investigative article that will land her the freshman spot on the Blue and Gold staff.)

So when a gunshot is fired right across the street, Tree knows this is the big story she's been waiting for. But the more she goes digging, the more secrets she uncovers, and soon she begins to wonder: When is it important to expose the truth? And when is it right to keep a secret?

This book was a good read. This book also combined many different book genres. Mystery, friendship, love, action, and many more. For the first fourteen chapters I was entranced in the way this author, Ms. Dandi Mackall, perfectly captured the way children think and act during surprising events. She wrote with feeling and emotion. As I was reading I felt like I was an onlooker watching the story unfold from the sidelines. It was so beautiful and real.

This story is about a thirteen year old girl named Teresa (Tree) Taylor. One day she hears a gunshot fired down her block. As an aspiring journalist, she vows to get to the bottom of the story. The story then follows the adventures she takes as she finds more about the gunshot story, life, and herself.

   This story was very well-written and inspiring. I loved it. It showed me girl power and how we should use it to better ourselves and the world around us. On my "Amazingly Fabulous Book Scale" I will give this book a 9 for inspiring plot, good uses of girl power, a flowing storyline, and a well-rounded story.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  Hannah