Secrets, Lies, And Algebra *Sorry Tess. B if you read this*

Secrets, Lies, and Algebra
By:Wendy Lichtman
Terri Thampan 804

   Technically, I never took this book out of the library, or Ms. Rear's room. It was simply on the table, and having already finished the book "Blonde Roots", and also being too lazy to work on its blogpost, I couldn't really return it back to the library. I like to have the books with me when I make a blogpost. So, because the book was on the table, like I previously said, I read it. And the only thing that made me continue reading that book was to see how the plot went.
   So the book I read is called " Secrets, Lies, and Algebra", and it's by Wendy Lichtman. When I first read the blurb, I was like, 'Oh great, a teenage drama, let's see if this is good.' Then, what really threw me off the loop was that there was a "murder" involved. The story is fairly simple, the main Character Tess is just your average eighth grader. She deals with problems, ranging from the scale of someone she knows being a possible murderer, and a kid cheating on a test. She and her friends get closer, and average stuff like that.
   It's a pretty cliched book, I mean it's definitely good for those who like your average teenage girl book, oh and math, don't forget the math. The thing is, I looked at the back of the book and found this out, the author is a Math tutor or teacher. Anyways, she likes math. And the book, is written by a girl who sees the world like math. As a person who doesn't mark math as her favorite subject in the world (Don't tell Ms. Vissa or my other math teachers!), when I see this much math, I tend to zone out, and feel like the book is trying to force learning math into my brain.
   When reading this, I found Tess's personality annoying (No personal offence to Tess B. If you read this!! I work alone~). She goes on about justice; now personally I don't think that's bad or anything, but when her mom tells her that she (the mom) thinks that Rob (Guy who her mom works with and is friends with) could have murdered his wife (Who committed suicide), and she starts thinking she has to tell the police about this because it's the right thing to do. I got annoyed by that because really, if he isn't a murderer, and it really was suicide, her mom would have to switch jobs because it would be awkward working with someone you accused of being a murderer, and plus, he would have a ruined reputation.
   Well, whose perspective do you think is missing in this story? Well, I think Rob's perspective is missing. I mean, his wife is dead, then some stupid kid (friend's kid actually) goes off and tells people that your friend thinks you killed your wife. Already you're saddened by the fact that your wife is dead, maybe a bit relieved to be out of the failing relationship, but also guilty, because you were cheating on her, and because of your failing relationship she died. What horrible emotions. How mixed up. How you must suddenly realize how delicate people are, how they can just break, snap, and then, their lives are just as delicate, and then they can disappear and leave you. Then, people start to think you have murdered your wife. Then the guilt starts to chew you away. What if I did murder her? She died because I couldn't fix our relationship! Because I didn't know how to break it off! To live with the guilt of all that, it will grow and break him. And that's why I dislike Tess so much. I knew right away that telling wasn't a good idea. She didn't think of the consequences. But really, where is Rob's justice? He now has a ruined reputation. and maybe, he has more emotional problems. Just because one girl realizes her mistake, it doesn't make a difference. She never even said sorry to Rob, or tried to fix his reputation. That's why I was really annoyed with this story.
  This story was just to be light, but adding that darker element of suicide really annoyed me. Because I like darker stories, with punishment and consequences, this was really annoying because, the only consequence that Tess faces is that her mom is angry at her and that one time thought that she might have ruined Rob's reputation.
  Another person I really was curious about was the girl, Lori, I think her name was. Well she was like an outcast, and Tess is like a total jerk to her. She is never really polite to the girl, and calls the girl a liar. Well, as I don't really like Tess ( I mean, this girl has no manners, she likes to correct her parents and adults, about MATH things, when really, it was just used as an expression! I mean, if I ever did that, my mom would go on and on about some random things, how I think I know everything, and then in the end I ultimately get ignored and have to deal with a huge lecture, this girl, gets like no punishment) I get interested in this girl. She says something about how she hates a girl who told a secret about her. I start to wonder, does this girl have friends? I think that Tess is really critical in what she thinks of this girl and others. She's basically really kind of mean about people, judging them if they don't know math well, wow, and basically is only nice about Miranda, who she says is like always positive. But anyways back to this Lori girl. I think her name is either Linda or Lori, but I know it starts with an L. I want to know why she's a loner. I think her perspective is missing as well. Does she get justice? Not really. She never seems to hang out with anyone and I feel so bad. She's like a loner, and she says she's friends with Tess and her friends (Miranda and Sammy). And then Tess goes on about how the girl is such a liar and annoying. But if I heard from Linda or Lori more ( I mean, if only she had been mentioned more, I could have remembered her name!) or had it from her perspective, it would totally drown out Tess's perspective. Because Tess is boring, and when I first read her description of herself, I thought she was a mary sue, what with her trying to downplay nice looks; but no, Tess is just annoying.
   Basically, this book sucks, and I only wanted to read it because I wanted to see if there was a plot twist. Which there isn't. So, I find it distasteful (to myself it is anyways) that this author adds something as serious as suicide to it, doesn't really make it that deep of a book, and pretty much makes the main character criticize other on math (maybe she should get criticized for grammar). I guess, adding a weird darkness to the book (which Tess does think about a lot) when the story is pretty light is the only way to make people read it still.
 So my review: DON'T READ THIS BOOK!  TESS IS ANNOYING!!!! (Sorry Tess. B if you read this!)