Open If You Dare

Gr 4–6—It's Rose, Birdie, and Allie's last summer together and they're determined to live it to the fullest. Things don't look so good, however. Allie's in a pitching slump, Rose's mom is bent on making Rose love her cello, and Birdie's mom isn't so thrilled with her recent behavior. When the trio of friends discover a long-buried box labeled "Open if You Dare," they find a letter inside written by a girl 40 years earlier. It claims someone named R.D. was murdered and, if they're reading the letter, so was she. As the girls begin to investigate, dark secrets from the town's past are uncovered. Birdie and her friends are genuine and true to their age. The first-person narrative is engaging and accessible. The author does a great of job of keeping the book light and humorous while handling a coming-of-age story filled with mystery.