Paris Pan Takes the Dare by Cynthea Liu
At 12, Paris Pan is the youngest of three in the peripatetic Pan family. Their latest address has them domiciled in teeny-tiny small town Sugar Lake, Oklahoma, where Paris has to start all over again at a new school. Unlike her older sister who has groupies before the first day is over, Paris’s social skills are not quite as advanced.
In order to hold onto her tenuous new friendships, she must be willing to take “The Dare,” a rite-of-passage for 13-year-olds that involves spending the night in the same woods where a young girl was apparently murdered years ago, whose spirit quite possibly might still be around. Paris learns a thing or two about true friendship – not to mention her own family! – and even experiences the angst of first crush.
Cynthea Liu‘s easy-breezy style works especially well in creating believable teenagers-to-be in all their contradictory glory. And even the most self-absorbed of Liu’s tween readers will recognize and appreciate her entertaining characterizations.
Readers: Middle Grade
Published: 2009
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