Scholastic Canada - The Year of Secret Assignments

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Scholastic Inc.
ISBN 0-439-49881-3 HC
416 pages
ISBN 0-439-49882-1 PBK
352 pages
Ages 12 and up

by Jaclyn Moriarty

Guess who’s got a secret? When a class assignment forces three girls at a fancy prep school to become pen pals with three boys from the other side of the tracks, it quickly leads to secrets, lies, laughs, and some really excellent kidding.


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Excerpt from by THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS
by Jaclyn Moriarty

Dear Emily,
Check it out. I JUST SAVED THE LIVES OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL.

I'm on the oval right now, and I can hardly see this paper through the tears of life-giving joy.

See those girls sitting cross-legged and singing the theme song from Friends? They wouldn't be doing that right now if it wasn't for me. See that guy over there taking the shoelace out of one of his sneakers? Same thing. That girl picking her nose? SHE WOULD BE DEAD AND HER NOSE WOULD BE FULLY UNPICKED IF IT WAS NOT FOR ME.

That guy with the sneakers is now using the lace to strangle someone, which is beautiful thing to see, Emily, and I made it possible, and that's why you are blurry through my tears.

Okay, check it out, I'll tell you what happened.

I was in the admin block, outside the principal's office. I won't go into the reason why I was there, because that would destroy the flow of the story.

The fact is, I was there, and on my own because the secretary just went out for a moment, and the telephone rang.

So I answer the phone. "Hello?"

And this voice goes, "Hello?"

And I go, "Hello?"

And this voice goes, "What?"

So I go: "Brookfield High School. How may I direct your call, please?" as per what I hear the secretary say every time I'm waiting there.

Then this voice goes, "Yes, hello, I'm with the Local Gas Authority and I'm calling from the basement of your school here. I'm just checking the main gas line and there is a serious leak here. Really, so serious that at any moment there could be an explosion. I myself am about to run to my car and get the hell away, but I thought I should let you know so you can sound the fire alarm and get everybody out of the school and onto the oval."

Check out how cool I was under pressure:

I just said, "Thank you very much, and please get yourself out of there and save your own life." Then I hung up, switched on the P.A. system, and said,

"THERE IS A GAS LEAK IN THE BASEMENT OF THE SCHOOL THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC. IT IS JUST A GAS LEAK WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION AT ANY MOMENT. PLEASE ALL GO TO THE OVAL, AS PER THE FIRE DRILLS."

Then I found the fire alarm and pressed the button.

So then of course the doors all around me open and the principal practically kills me to switch off the P.A., and somehow I landed on the office floor but I kept my dignity.

So that explains why I am on the oval right now and not doing my Origins of the First World War examination, and also why I have now got a new faith in humanity, on account of being its savior.

When you think about it, the young people are the future, so I have saved the future.

There are even a couple of police here right this minute scouring the school for gas leaks, which includes my brother Brian (I don't mean my brother Brian is a gas leak, he's a cop), so I'm hoping they'll get to the lead in time and patch it up, maybe a bit of Blue Tack or chewing gum, whatever you do in an emergency.

Or in the alternative, I hope they get everyone of there, including the fish out of the school pond and the flying foxes from the attic and then the gas leak explodes and then the school is, like, fully gone. Pffwt. (Open your hand out wide to indicate that there's nothing there anymore, as per your average magic trick.)

No more school.

Anyhow, I hope you don't send an empty envelope next time.

Catch ya,
Charlie
P.S. I liked your handwriting in your last letter. It was cute.

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"I love this book! It is absolutely my favourite book EVER. It's got humour, romance, everything you need. Also, I've run into nearly the same things as Lyd, Cass, and Em except over MSN! Well, not Cass but a mix of Em and Lyd! I love it!" Brenna S., Age 13, Ontario, Rating: 10 "This book is witty, funny, and had me laughing when it was supposed to be silent reading during class. Lydia is my favourite character from the beginning, and I love her attitude toward her notebook. This book is a perfect read for all girls, and even guys! The entire book is fast-paced and full of plot twists and even secret agents! I hope Jaclyn Moriarty comes out with more books like this one!" Shima I., Age 16, U.S.A., Rating: 10 "I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY liked this book. It was cute and romantic and charming, really. One of my favourites. I read it, like, five times. Ever think about making a movie of it? I would love to star in it!" Caitlin K., Age 16, U.S.A., Rating: 10 "This is my favourite book because it has so many aspects rolled into one: romance, danger, letters, e-mails, singing, dreams, etc. I showed it to my friend Joseph, and he couldn't stop reading it. It's almost addictive. :D" Laura M., Age 13, Ontario, Rating: 10 "This book is so good, I could read it about 6 times over. I mean it's got everything! From humour to adventure to suspense and even romance. It'll make you want to ask for more. " Rossi M., Age 14, U.S.A., Rating: 9 "This is my favourite book! This is a book that really kept me reading." Bee H., Age 15, U.S.A., Rating: 10

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