The Year of Secret Assignments

Three students at Ashbury High School are paired with pen pals from rival Brookfield High as part of a writing assignment. Cassie, Emily and Lydia exchange letters with their male counterparts, documenting their growing connections through letters, notebooks, and other written exchanges. The assignment leads to pranks, secret meetings, and increasingly complicated relationships between the students from the two schools. Their communications reveal both the differences and unexpected similarities between teenagers from contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds. The story tracks the development of friendship, first romance, and personal growth through multiple narrative voices and formats. The mix of humor and drama mirrors the authentic ups and downs of adolescent life, while exploring themes of trust, loyalty, and the power of written communication to bridge social divides.

Readers call this book funny, quirky, and charming. The epistolary format (letters, emails, notebooks) makes it engaging and fast-paced. Many reviewers mention laughing out loud at the humor and banter between characters. Readers liked: - Distinct voices and personalities for each character - Balance of humor with serious themes - Creative format that builds suspense - Strong female friendships - Realistic teen dialogue and relationships Common criticisms: - Takes time to get oriented to multiple characters/perspectives - Some found the letter format confusing - Plot becomes less believable in later sections - Romance aspects feel predictable to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.07/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (120+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 One frequent comment from reviews: "Unlike anything else in YA fiction." Multiple readers mentioned re-reading it multiple times. Several noted it works well for both teen and adult readers.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan Two teens communicate through notes and challenges in a notebook passed back and forth across New York City.

Love & Other Blackmail by Jo Noelle Three friends scheme through letters to expose their private school's secrets and scandals.

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum A grieving teen receives anonymous emails from a mystery classmate who helps her navigate her new school.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West Notes passed between chemistry class partners lead to an anonymous pen-pal romance between unexpected correspondents.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty Letters between best friends reveal the struggles of high school life after one moves away.

🔖 The book is written entirely through letters, diary entries, emails, and other documents, making it an engaging example of epistolary fiction. 📚 Originally published in Australia under the title "Finding Cassie Crazy," the book is part of the Ashbury/Brookfield series but can be read as a standalone novel. ✍️ Jaclyn Moriarty comes from a family of writers - her sisters Liane Moriarty and Nicola Moriarty are also successful authors. 📝 The story was inspired by the author's experience as a high school teacher, where she witnessed the power of letter-writing assignments in helping students express themselves. 🌏 The book takes place in Sydney, Australia, and authentically captures Australian teen culture and school life, including unique slang and cultural references.