Jonell, Lynne. The Secret of Zoom. Henry Holt and Company, 2009. ISBN 9780805088564. $16.99. 291 p.
Reviewer: Tessa McMillan
Reading Level: Primary, Intermediate, Young adult
Rating: Outstanding
Genre: Adventure stories; Detective and mystery stories; Science fiction;
Subject: Adventure and adventurers --Juvenile fiction; Orphans --Juvenile fiction; Power resources --Experiments --Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
Christina is lonely in the Loompski mansion with only her computer and music lessons to keep her company. Her father is a scientist at the Loompski Labs and her mother was blown up, so they say. Christina is not allowed to leave the house because her father wants to keep her from harm. But there are tales about the mansion that Christina hears about from an outside orphan, Taft. Those secrets are revealed to Christina when she discovers a secret tunnel to the Loompski Orphanage. Once there, she helps Taft escape and learns about all the atrocities going on outside her home. Through their hard work, they uncover more mysteries involving the Loompski family. In the end, Christina saves the town from the nasty villain, Lenny Loompski.
Jonell creates a very humorous but thought provoking story in The Secret of Zoom. Christina's character is very identified and intriguing. This would be would a great addition to any library. Readers from ages eight to eighteen would enjoy this story.
Volume 29, no. 5 (July/August 2009)
