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Undercover

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Like a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac, Elisa ghostwrites love notes for the boys in her school. But when Elisa falls for Theo Moses, things change fast. Theo asks for verses to court the lovely Lila—a girl known for her beauty, her popularity, and a cutting ability to remind Elisa that she has none of these. At home, Elisa's father, the one person she feels understands her, has left on an extended business trip. As the days grow shorter, Elisa worries that the increasingly urgent letters she sends her father won't bring him home. Like the undercover agent she feels she has become, Elisa retreats to a pond in the woods, where her talent for ice-skating gives her the confidence to come out from under cover and take center stage. But when Lila becomes jealous of Theo's friendship with Elisa, her revenge nearly destroys Elisa's ice-skating dreams and her plan to reunite her family.

National Book Award nominee Beth Kephart's first young adult novel is a stunning debut.

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from October 1, 2007
      Kephart (A Slant of Sun
      ) makes a smooth transition from adult nonfiction to YA fiction with this intelligent, multilayered love story. Instead of inheriting her mother's beauty like her older sister, highschool sophomore Elisa shares her father's wild hair and talent for observation (“Dad likes to say, about both of us, that we're undercover operatives who see the world better than the world sees us,” says Elisa). At school, she ghostwrites poems and romantic metaphors for smitten boys to give to girls (“Dear Lori, Last night I left my window open and a firefly flew through. So much light and all I could think of was you. Love Matt”). Although she's lonely, all goes well enough until Elisa becomes attracted to Theo, who has drafted her to write love notes for a pretty but manipulative girl with a pronounced cruel streak. Elisa's poetic, unself-conscious descriptions of nature (especially what occurs at a pond, her favorite place for reflection) gracefully evoke her loneliness for her father, away on business (or is his absence prolonged by marital distress?); her frustrations with herself for always staying in the shadows; and her anger at Theo for going along with his girlfriend's mistreatment of her. Neatly balancing action and contemplation, Kephart offers a plethora of images, ideas about literature and even some well-known poems along with a plot that will speak to many teens. Ages 12-up.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from October 1, 2007
      Gr 9 Up-This is a beautifully written, engrossing tale of a painfully introverted and self-effacing teen who slowly finds herself, along with love, a passion for skating, and new words and ways to use them. The central theme is based on "Cyrano d'Bergerac"; Elisa has been writing notes for boys' girlfriends, but upon studying the play in her English class and starting to have feelings for one of her clients, she begins to ponder her role. Elisa's voiceand her taleis laden with poetic metaphor; she learns to skate alone at a solitary pond in the freezing winter's evenings as foxes and crows look on; the teacher who is "too blond for her pale skin" hides untold depths; and her father (and idol) is an advice-giving business consultant whose apparent inability to prioritize his own life is destroying his marriage. Kephart prevents this strange loner from being too painful or unsympathetic by giving her a contemplative voice, one that finds solace in nature and poetry. She also includes some rather sophisticated literary analysis without sounding preachy. The temporal setting is unclear, presumably the 1980s or early '90s. With its highly sympathetic character, a melancholic mood turning gradually to one of hope, and its generous and languorous use of language, this is a book that no serious-minded teen will want to miss, and high school English teachers may also take note as it has a well-crafted and highly teachable text."Rhona Campbell, Washington, DC Public Library"

      Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from October 15, 2007
      Dad likes to say, about both of us, that were undercover operatives who see the world better than the world sees us. Like her father, a traveling consultant, Elisa has leveraged her talent for looking closely and seeing what others dont. A loner and a talented writer, she operates an undercover business ghostwriting love messages for boys who struggle to express their feelings. Elisa finds her inspiration in nature, particularly on trips to a secluded pond, where, in winter, she teaches herself how to skate. As her parents marriage strains dangerously during her fathers long absences, Elisa escapes to the pond, where one of her clients, fellow student Theo, begins to follow her. In her first novel for young adults, Kephart tells a moving story of a young teen whose first powerful crush is tempered by the aching sense that her family is pulling apart. Although itstoo convenient that Elisas English class is studying Edmund Rostands Cyranno de Bergerac, readers will fall easily into the compelling premise and Elisas memorable, graceful voice, andhave no troublerecognizingthe teensquiet courage as she leaves her comfortable isolation, claims her own talents, and embraces the people who matter most.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2008
      Self-conscious, hyper-observant high schooler Elisa ghostwrites her classmates' love notes and poems. Her developing feelings for one of her clients and an emerging figure-skating avocation prompt a more active participation in life. Strained family dynamics and an inspiring English teacher contribute further complications. Plot is secondary to character, sensation, and imagery in this book of sharply observed relationships and evocative prose.

      (Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
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  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.5
  • Lexile® Measure:940
  • Interest Level:9-12(UG)
  • Text Difficulty:4-6

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