School Library Journal
Maximum melodrama is squeezed out of this one. Alex is haunted by the anniversary of her brother's death, and vicious rumors fly about her supposed affair with the new shop teacher. The whole thing wraps up in a tear-jerker ending. Actually, it's not as bad as it sounds: the plot hums right along with lots of action, the dialogue is a bit catty but not altogether stupid, and the story gets tied up in a more or less logical manner. And, in case readers missed the lessons, Alex reviews the moral of the story with her foster sister. Better than average for this series.