(4) 4-6 Mackenzie Blue series. Illustrated by Michael Segawa. In Friends Forever?, Zee and her pals go on a school nature trip. In Mixed Messages, the gang sets up its own social networking site. The numerous, sparely drawn characters are hard to keep straight but easy to relate to. These series entries employ the same contemporary conventions of emails, IMs, and lists as the first two books. Review covers these Mackenzie Blue titles: Friends Forever? and Mixed Messages.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Mackenzie Blue series. Illustrated by Michael Segawa. Seventh-grader Zee (Mackenzie Blue) and her friends are writing and starring in a school musical. But Zee’s also got personal drama: she’s crushing on Landon, her former nemesis is acting like her new best friend, and her real best friend lives in Paris. Although the characters are paper-thin, some readers may enjoy the girly format, including e-mails, IMs, and diary entries.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Mackenzie Blue series. Illustrated by Michael Segawa. In Friends Forever?, Zee and her pals go on a school nature trip. In Mixed Messages, the gang sets up its own social networking site. The numerous, sparely drawn characters are hard to keep straight but easy to relate to. These series entries employ the same contemporary conventions of emails, IMs, and lists as the first two books. Review covers these Mackenzie Blue titles: Friends Forever? and Mixed Messages.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Segawa. It's Harriet the Spy meets School of Rock: all seventh grader Mackenzie ("Zee") can think about is the Teen Sing contest...until she loses her diary at school. Zee enlists the aid of--and then (unrealistically) accuses--her two friends; readers will spot the real culprit from miles away. Hip black-and-white illustrations and creative details bolster the telegraphed plot.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz