REALLY TRULY

REALLY TRULY by Heather Vogel Frederick

If you have been following this page for any length of time, you know that I really like the Pumpkin Falls Mystery Series (aka Absolutely Truly and Yours Truly) by Heather Vogel Frederick. I recently finished the third book, Really Truly, as a read aloud to the family. I had held off reading it out loud until it warmed up outside. (The first 2 are set in winter in New Hampshire.) This one deals with summer vacation and camp, so despite the very loud, verbal protests from the family, I made them wait until Ohio was experiencing sunny days and warmer temps.

Truly finds herself wrapped up in two mysteries this time while away at Mermaid Academy (the worst place she could ever be in her opinion). The first has to do with a sentimental trophy from Pumpkin Falls that is stolen and the second has to do with pirates and the possibility of buried treasure. Learning to swim like a mermaid while knee deep in mysteries away from home isn't how Truly planned on spending the summer, but valuable lessons are learned about revenge and lying to one's parents.

Besides the mystery element, what makes the Truly series so engaging is that Truly is a bit of an awkward girl. (Do you remember that age?) She sticks out due to her height when she would rather blend in and her plans often times have a way of going askew. All these things make her not only believable but relatable.

I will stick a little end note on here. If I am being brutally honest this was my least favorite of the 3 books so far. It is still good and worth the read, but I felt the storyline wasn't quite as smooth as the first 2 books.

By the way, Book 4 will be out around the third week of August.