YOU HAVE SEVEN MESSAGES

When 15-year-old Luna finds her dead mother’s cell phone, she embarks upon a quest to learn the truth about her death and, in a larger sense, her life.

The cell has seven messages on it. Each contains a clue that opens a door to a different aspect of her mother’s life, which in turn forces Luna out of her comfort zone and into the wider world. As Luna continues to plumb the mystery, she learns not only that truth can be illusive but that there can be many truths. Although the story is somewhat repetitious, it’s a strong idea and the book contains various delights. Yet much of the material doesn’t ring true. For example, it seems unlikely that Luna would be befriended by a grown-up model (Luna’s mother was also a model) or that she’d get a gallery to showcase her photography. It’s not because these events lack rationales or can’t happen; it’s because they are not set up in a way that readers will find credible. On the other hand, the love story element shines, and the book offers a nice window into the life of privileged New York youngsters, refreshingly filled with protective and involved adults.