Carol TanzmanCríticas

Valerie is finally getting her chance to run a news crew for Campus News at the H.S. TV station. Also there's the chance to go for that Student Emmy, which would certainly set her apart from other college applicants. And as luck would have it, there's a secret club of students pulling pranks that are becoming more and more dangerous... breaking a story like this would certainly put her ahead right? But then there's the issue of her slacker/cheater-ex being put on her team at the last minute, and the fact that MP (the name of the secret club) is pretty elusive. Will Val be able to figure out MP before they go over the deep end?

Not my favorite, but not because it was bad writing or a bad story. I just didn't like Val. I felt like she was a goody-goody in an annoying way. Yes she drank at a party and skipped school that one time, but still there was something so blah about her. And the whole thing with Jagger (the slacker ex) was obvious. Just because his dad messed him up doesn't mean you forgive him before he even apologizes. I didn't even get the appeal of him anyway.

The mystery aspect of it was good though. It had me guessing the whole time :)

Note: This was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley

My Blog: http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/

Who knew that a novel about a high school broadcast production of school news could be so exciting? Apparently Carol Tanzman did, and I am so glad! First off, I don't think the synopsis did this book justice. It was much more suspenseful than I thought it would be. And the pranks? Literally deadly. The characters were strong and the mystery was well written. I couldn't put it down, and it was a very quick read because of this. The pacing was spot on, and the ending was a surprise.

In summary, I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to fans of YA mysteries/thrillers with some good old fashioned romance thrown in for fun.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Teen, and Carol M. Tanzman for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"dancergirl" es sobre una chica, Alice. Ella ama bailar y lo hace por sobre todas las cosas. Ella es feliz bailando y no lo oculta. Un día, un amigo de ella sube un video a YouTube en el que sale ella bailando sin que se diera cuenta de que la están grabando. Ella no le da importancia: algunas personas opinan que no sabe bailar, otras le dicen que tiene buen ritmo y otras aman su estilo.
Ali sigue su vida normal y pronto su amigo vuelve a subir otro video en el que ella está bailando en una fiesta, esta vez con su conocimiento. Se unen más comentarios, pero todo sigue muy normal.
Hasta que una persona desconocida sube un video suyo bailando en su habitación en ropa interior. ¿Lo peor? Ella nunca deja a nadie entrar a su cuarto. ¿Cómo pudieron llegar hasta su cuarto y grabar ese video? ¿Acaso ya no está a salvo en su propia casa?
dancergirl (4.5)

Alice ya no se siente segura, se siente perseguida y no sabe a donde ir. No quiere preocupar a su madre, pero tampoco puede decirle. Si se entera del video, se enterará también de los primeros dos... Y no cree que vaya a reaccionar de buena manera.
Y como si las cosas no pudieran empeorar, su mejor amigo se transfiere de escuela y no le habla casi nunca y, cuando lo hace, se escabulle rápido.
Cada día que pasa hace que Alice se sienta más amenazada. No sabe que hacer, se está volviendo loca y no ve una salida. La persona que grabó el video le envía varios "regalos" a Alice, cada uno más personal, quitándole la paz, la alegría y la libertad hasta que Alice se pregunta: "Lo próximo que me quitará... ¿Será mi vida?"

El libro es muy bueno, aunque es algo corto para mi gusto (unas 230 páginas, si recuerdo bien. Se lo presté a mi prima esta mañana.) Cada pista nueva hacía que otra persona pareciese culpable y... El final NO ME LO ESPERABA. Se me paró el corazón unas cuantas veces mientras leía esos últimos 10 capítulos. Sentía que me estaba pasando a mi. Definitivamente, para ser el trabajo debut de Carol M. Tanzman, está simplemente perfecto.

Algo muy bueno que tiene este libro es que muestra la realidad de las redes sociales: pueden ser muy buenas, todos lo saben; pero también hay personas que no tienen muy buenas intenciones.½

"dancergirl" es sobre una chica, Alice. Ella ama bailar y lo hace por sobre todas las cosas. Ella es feliz bailando y no lo oculta. Un día, un amigo de ella sube un video a YouTube en el que sale ella bailando sin que se diera cuenta de que la están grabando. Ella no le da importancia: algunas personas opinan que no sabe bailar, otras le dicen que tiene buen ritmo y otras aman su estilo.
Ali sigue su vida normal y pronto su amigo vuelve a subir otro video en el que ella está bailando en una fiesta, esta vez con su conocimiento. Se unen más comentarios, pero todo sigue muy normal.
Hasta que una persona desconocida sube un video suyo bailando en su habitación en ropa interior. ¿Lo peor? Ella nunca deja a nadie entrar a su cuarto. ¿Cómo pudieron llegar hasta su cuarto y grabar ese video? ¿Acaso ya no está a salvo en su propia casa?
dancergirl (4.5)

Alice ya no se siente segura, se siente perseguida y no sabe a donde ir. No quiere preocupar a su madre, pero tampoco puede decirle. Si se entera del video, se enterará también de los primeros dos... Y no cree que vaya a reaccionar de buena manera.
Y como si las cosas no pudieran empeorar, su mejor amigo se transfiere de escuela y no le habla casi nunca y, cuando lo hace, se escabulle rápido.
Cada día que pasa hace que Alice se sienta más amenazada. No sabe que hacer, se está volviendo loca y no ve una salida. La persona que grabó el video le envía varios "regalos" a Alice, cada uno más personal, quitándole la paz, la alegría y la libertad hasta que Alice se pregunta: "Lo próximo que me quitará... ¿Será mi vida?"

El libro es muy bueno, aunque es algo corto para mi gusto (unas 230 páginas, si recuerdo bien. Se lo presté a mi prima esta mañana.) Cada pista nueva hacía que otra persona pareciese culpable y... El final NO ME LO ESPERABA. Se me paró el corazón unas cuantas veces mientras leía esos últimos 10 capítulos. Sentía que me estaba pasando a mi. Definitivamente, para ser el trabajo debut de Carol M. Tanzman, está simplemente perfecto.

Algo muy bueno que tiene este libro es que muestra la realidad de las redes sociales: pueden ser muy buenas, todos lo saben; pero también hay personas que no tienen muy buenas intenciones.

"dancergirl" es sobre una chica, Alice. Ella ama bailar y lo hace por sobre todas las cosas. Ella es feliz bailando y no lo oculta. Un día, un amigo de ella sube un video a YouTube en el que sale ella bailando sin que se diera cuenta de que la están grabando. Ella no le da importancia: algunas personas opinan que no sabe bailar, otras le dicen que tiene buen ritmo y otras aman su estilo.
Ali sigue su vida normal y pronto su amigo vuelve a subir otro video en el que ella está bailando en una fiesta, esta vez con su conocimiento. Se unen más comentarios, pero todo sigue muy normal.
Hasta que una persona desconocida sube un video suyo bailando en su habitación en ropa interior. ¿Lo peor? Ella nunca deja a nadie entrar a su cuarto. ¿Cómo pudieron llegar hasta su cuarto y grabar ese video? ¿Acaso ya no está a salvo en su propia casa?
dancergirl (4.5)

Alice ya no se siente segura, se siente perseguida y no sabe a donde ir. No quiere preocupar a su madre, pero tampoco puede decirle. Si se entera del video, se enterará también de los primeros dos... Y no cree que vaya a reaccionar de buena manera.
Y como si las cosas no pudieran empeorar, su mejor amigo se transfiere de escuela y no le habla casi nunca y, cuando lo hace, se escabulle rápido.
Cada día que pasa hace que Alice se sienta más amenazada. No sabe que hacer, se está volviendo loca y no ve una salida. La persona que grabó el video le envía varios "regalos" a Alice, cada uno más personal, quitándole la paz, la alegría y la libertad hasta que Alice se pregunta: "Lo próximo que me quitará... ¿Será mi vida?"

El libro es muy bueno, aunque es algo corto para mi gusto (unas 230 páginas, si recuerdo bien. Se lo presté a mi prima esta mañana.) Cada pista nueva hacía que otra persona pareciese culpable y... El final NO ME LO ESPERABA. Se me paró el corazón unas cuantas veces mientras leía esos últimos 10 capítulos. Sentía que me estaba pasando a mi. Definitivamente, para ser el trabajo debut de Carol M. Tanzman, está simplemente perfecto.

Algo muy bueno que tiene este libro es que muestra la realidad de las redes sociales: pueden ser muy buenas, todos lo saben; pero también hay personas que no tienen muy buenas intenciones.

"dancergirl" es sobre una chica, Alice. Ella ama bailar y lo hace por sobre todas las cosas. Ella es feliz bailando y no lo oculta. Un día, un amigo de ella sube un video a YouTube en el que sale ella bailando sin que se diera cuenta de que la están grabando. Ella no le da importancia: algunas personas opinan que no sabe bailar, otras le dicen que tiene buen ritmo y otras aman su estilo.
Ali sigue su vida normal y pronto su amigo vuelve a subir otro video en el que ella está bailando en una fiesta, esta vez con su conocimiento. Se unen más comentarios, pero todo sigue muy normal.
Hasta que una persona desconocida sube un video suyo bailando en su habitación en ropa interior. ¿Lo peor? Ella nunca deja a nadie entrar a su cuarto. ¿Cómo pudieron llegar hasta su cuarto y grabar ese video? ¿Acaso ya no está a salvo en su propia casa?
dancergirl (4.5)

Alice ya no se siente segura, se siente perseguida y no sabe a donde ir. No quiere preocupar a su madre, pero tampoco puede decirle. Si se entera del video, se enterará también de los primeros dos... Y no cree que vaya a reaccionar de buena manera.
Y como si las cosas no pudieran empeorar, su mejor amigo se transfiere de escuela y no le habla casi nunca y, cuando lo hace, se escabulle rápido.
Cada día que pasa hace que Alice se sienta más amenazada. No sabe que hacer, se está volviendo loca y no ve una salida. La persona que grabó el video le envía varios "regalos" a Alice, cada uno más personal, quitándole la paz, la alegría y la libertad hasta que Alice se pregunta: "Lo próximo que me quitará... ¿Será mi vida?"

El libro es muy bueno, aunque es algo corto para mi gusto (unas 230 páginas, si recuerdo bien. Se lo presté a mi prima esta mañana.) Cada pista nueva hacía que otra persona pareciese culpable y... El final NO ME LO ESPERABA. Se me paró el corazón unas cuantas veces mientras leía esos últimos 10 capítulos. Sentía que me estaba pasando a mi. Definitivamente, para ser el trabajo debut de Carol M. Tanzman, está simplemente perfecto.

Algo muy bueno que tiene este libro es que muestra la realidad de las redes sociales: pueden ser muy buenas, todos lo saben; pero también hay personas que no tienen muy buenas intenciones.

I was just going to read the first chapter but somehow it's 1:15 in the morning and the book is finished. Good.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Ali is a normal teenager with a bright future in dancing. She loses control of her life when an innocent youtube video attracts a stalker.

The eerie thought of having a stranger watch you drew me in, especially in this day and age. A lot of people treat the internet like their own personal diary, not really realizing that all what you publish is public and will be on the internet FOREVER. So when a friend of Ali's decides to upload a youtube series focused around Ali and 'shyguy,' Ali doesn't see the harm,and which kid would?

To be honest, I didn't really get the whole 'creepy' feel from this book that I was expecting. The story moved a little too slowly for my liking, mostly because Tanzman had to make room for the Ali and Jacy's angsty love story. I really liked the plot twist because the great reveal wasn't anyone that I was expecting, and when you reflected it made sense for this person to be the culprit. That's the part I always love about mysteries, when you can reflect on all the small clues that you missed.

The strongest element of this novel was the characters. They were real teenagers, not cookie cutter images of American society. Troubled kids, kids from single-parent households, kids from all different nationalities and even some homosexual characters. THIS was an accurate representation of the average American high schooler. They even did taboo high schooler things like getting high.

The story was well written, so I have no complaints here. Carol Tanzman really tapped into the average teenager's head which made this book seem so much more real.

I think this is an interesting read for any rainy day. I wished there was more action, but I loved the characters and their struggling to make sense of the obstacles thrown their way.

I received a copy of this digital galley, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Goodreads Summary: The biggest story of my life could be how it ends. It’s my turn to run a Campus News crew, and I’ve put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead. A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets—until a student lands in the hospital under strange circumstances. I will blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt... …or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don’t trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is not important to this story.) But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera or a victim in the top story of the newscast be sure to watch Campus News at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.
My thoughts:
Valerie, a reporter for Campus News , is working on the story of her life. But the cost must be her life. MP starts with small pranks but soon they escalate and someone gets hurt. As the B team races to uncover MP’s identity and purpose, the danger increases and the enemy is closer to home.
Okay, I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading Circle of Silence. I think that this was a pretty decent read, though it didn’t create a whole lot of excitement. I like the characters and their interactions with each other. Val and Bethany’s relationship is awkward. No, they don’t get along with each other and it’s normal for sisters to be distant with each other. But there were moments that Val actually reached out and tried to connect with Bethany. Bethany is the little sister, and for her there is a mixture of emotions that she is dealing with: jealousy and not having a group to belong to (just to name a couple). Regardless of the awkwardness, there was a lot of love within the family. This fact makes some of the events that happen a little unbelievable.
As far as the romance, not every story requires a love triangle and I tend to avoid triangles. There were an equal amount of reasons for both guys, but ultimately I think Val made too big a deal out of choosing. It is high school though. My favorite part of the book was how B-team worked together and going after the stories. I did like the characters and the passion that they had for their pursuits.
Recommendation: While I think that there is a lot of room to increase the tension and excitement within the story, I did enjoy it. And I still think that it’s worth checking out.

3 stars ***

Author: Carol M Tanzman
Published By: Hanlequin Teen
Age Recommended: YA
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4

Review:

"Circle of Silence" by Carol M. Tanzman was a second installment of the WiHi series and I thought this was a very intriguing read that I couldn't put down until the end. This was indeed interesting mystery that was thrilling to see how this author was able to tell this story from a 'news team view point and the point of the MP' keeping this going on throughout this novel. This is definitely a novel that will keep the reader captivated and hanging on every word as the tension grows as the story progresses. There will be even a little romance thrown in.

The story is of a senior Valerie Gaines who wants her senior year to really count
and she is the producer of "Campus News". Valerie wants badly to win the school's Emmy Award to help get into the top university of journalism of her choice. But will this happen? Problems arise when Valerie's ex boy-friend, Jagger has join the news class and is on her team...then there has been "pranksters whose pranks seem to be getting more and more dangerous that uses the initials MP." The MP's were a "group of teenage outcasts tired of being ignored and humiliated every day decide to take revenge on people around them." For the pledge these member make to their group to keep silent really will be something. Who knew that Valerie not only had to find out who is behind all of this, but also will getting this story be worth risking her own life? "The question is, can she prevent this tragedy before it strikes and can Valarie and her team find out the identity of MP before it's too late."

The characters were all a interesting group from Valerie, Marci, Raul, Jagger, Omar, Mr.Carleton, Scott Jenkins, Bethany, Jesse, James, Phil, Henry, Mrs. G, Lawrence, Tracy Garner, Teneisha, Emily Purdue, Liam Dolan to Arnold Clemson and a few others... really made this some story.

Towards the end of the book, you find out one of the members of MP is someone very close to Valerie, but Valerie easily forgave her. Wow! This was really something and I had better stop here and say you must pick up "circle of Silence" to find out how this all comes out! I wasn't totally surprise or shocked at who it was.

This novel was a enjoyable mystery read that I would recommend that it would keep you were entertained from the beginning till the end.

Review by Sliced Open Reviews

Ok in 100% honesty if I would have come across this book 4 months ago I would never have purchased it. But, I’ve been all about expanding my reading horizons lately, trying new things and finding expansions from YA Paranormal. Thus leading me to stumbling on a synopsis for Circle of Silence (the next installment of the WiHi series) and it sparked something inside that spurred me to push forward. I ran out and purchased dancergirl, don’t regret one penny spent! One of my favorite mystery reads is Dismantled by Jenny McMahon, so I don’t know why I was so apprehensive when starting dancergirl cause, hello? They are both Mystery/Thriller’s so yea, I had no reason to doubt. Loved.It!

I had no idea how intense this book was going to get. I went in to this thinking, eh it will be ok at best, but really it totally blew me away. The writing was easy to understand and made the reading quick and enjoyable. Yet the story built with intensity that kept my heart pounding and pages turning. I devoured this in one night and jumped up and did a small dance of spectacular excitement that yet again was proven that there is more outside the Paranormal-sphere.

I also want, no need, to make mention on the spectacular characters. Each character contributed to part of the mystery and each had their own sense of “reveal” that kept the story building. It was truly amazing how it was done as it didn’t hamper upon the ultimate plot, nor did it over complicate the read. It was this strangely perfect formula that added bonus to my already surprised conclusion to the book.

One thing that left me curios was I finished reading was how the heck this was going to be a series?

Review by Sliced Open Reviews

So, if you read my review for dancergirl earlier today/yesterday then you know that I was pleasantly surprised by my enjoyment of it after my apprehension in reading it. Well, Circle of Silence is part of what spawned all of the curiosity. Truthfully, I was more intrigued by the synopsis for this book and after finishing dancergirl I was so much more excited to start reading.

You remember my curiosity to how WiHi was going to be a series? Well it is, but it isn’t. You could, in theory, read these out-of-order. But, there are so innuendos within this book that you would only pickup on having read dancergirl. The series takes on the same setting, but picks up a completely new cast and story. Oh and boy was it a story. This book really stepped it up with the action and suspense aspects. Yes, there was also still mystery but this one. Totally takes a combination of all three and ends up kicking your butt!

I also loved the characters in this book too. Where the characters in dancergirl were great and contributed to the story fabulously, Circle of Silence does much in the same, while also ramping up the romance factor. Jagger, Jagger, Jagger. *Cue my bad boy infatuation* yes, Jagger is Valerie’s ex who dropped her like a bad habit their previous year of school and now he has come barreling back into her life while attempting to, what she thinks, ruin HER year on “Campus News”. Well, Jagger’s spectacular bad boy facade plus what seems like Valerie’s ideal story to give her the breakthrough year on “Campus News” equaled on book I couldn’t put down!

Oh, aaannndddd Masked men…freaking creepy! I loved the random MP LOG’s tossed in throughout the book totally added to the action and creep factor.

Overall loved this one too, Carol M Tanzman totally stepped up her game with it and will have to pick up a copy to add to the shelves!

Carol M. Tanzman has a gift for writing contemporary stories that explore the real, gritty side of high school life in a way that keeps the reader captivated and hanging onto her every word. Honestly, I'm not fond of the synopsis. It doesn't capture the thrill and shivers and dread that I felt while reading this book. It doesn't capture the essence of the story as did the synopsis for dancergirl (WiHi #1). However, I had read dancergirl, and I remembered how much I loved that book. With high expectations, I picked up Circle of Silence, and I loved it.

Although this is the second book in a series, what ties the books together is that they take place in the same high school. The character are all different, but for a couple references to Ali, which was pretty exciting. I cheered, "I KNOW THAT GIRL!!" in my head, as though I'd spotted a celebrity. In a way, I did. I'm that big of a book nerd.

The story focuses on Val's perspective; however, every now and then, the mysterious leader behind the society gets a word in. Each time, I knew that something bad was going to happen. Because the leader doesn't have anything good to say. What we see is plotting--plotting on how to use the other members of the society, what new and dangerous prank to pull, and who should be eliminated. Each prank is more daring and threatening than the last, and I was hanging off the edge of a mental cliff, worrying that Val and her team wouldn't expose the truth in time to prevent something irreversible from happening. As it is, they come across many close calls.

Val is a very different narrator from Ali. Both have large amounts of pressure put onto them, and both are courageous in their own ways. Ali for going after a stalker; Val for pursuing the truth of the story at all costs. The difference is that Val seems more energetic and with more drive, which comes from the reporter within her. As an aspiring journalist, she is always pushing after the truth, after the story, and her curiosity often gets her into trouble. (And having a stalker isn't very energizing. It's downright scary.) Oftentimes, it causes her to forget about what matters. However, that is at the heart of this story: learning to accept yourself and the proper way to go about doing that. I loved watching Val and her team pursue the story on the mysterious society

Val is a courage girl. It takes a lot of guts to pursue a story as dangerous as this one, especially when you know that the authorities won't do anything to help. With this second book, Tanzman has established herself as one of my favorite authors. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book that she has lying in store for us!

Valerie Gaines is determined to make her senior year count. As producer of "Campus News" she knows if she plays her cards right she and her news team can easily win the school Emmy and she will get into the top journalism school of her choice. But then her ex-boyfriend, Jaggar joins the class and her teacher assigns Jaggar to her team. So much for getting over him. Now Valerie has to deal with the boy who broke her heart while investigating a group of school pranksters whose pranks seem to be getting more and more dangerous. Despite the warnings to stop her investigation, Valerie is determined to find out who is behind this, but is getting the story worth risking her life?

I missed the first installment of the WiHi series, but from what I understand, each installment deals with a different cast of characters, so I didn't feel as if I was missing any information. After reading this book, I definitely want to go back and read dancergirl. The story was well-executed, and I felt connected to a lot of the characters. The plot was well-paced and the tension grew as the story progressed. I really liked Valerie. I totally understood her motivation -- she's a journalist and her tenacity was admirable. I'm not sure I would have been as strong as her were I to find myself in a similar situation. I was thoroughly engaged in the story. I liked that it felt real. The whole secret society, and the pledge these members make to their group to keep silent really grabbed me. I could totally see this happening. There are so many kids in high school that feel as if they don't really belong, so pledging oneself to a group just to feel wanted makes sense. I also liked that the romance, while not a dominant part of the story, felt natural and not forced. While the ending and the reveal of who was behind the mysterious group didn't really surprise me, I felt the rest of the novel gelled well enough that it didn't bother me as badly as it would have had the story been weak.

I definitely recommend this one. A perfect mix of mystery, intrigue, likable characters and a touch of romance makes Circle of Silence a must read for any mystery lover.

It's Valerie Gaines' senior year in high school and she wants nothing more than to run the "Campus News." She has her team together and things couldn't be better, then who should walk in the door to join the class, but her ex-boyfriend Jaggar Voorham, looking as sexy as ever, just when she thought she was getting over him. To top it off, he's assigned to her news team, and the teacher asks her to show him the ropes. Valerie and her team end up investigating a series of pranks at school by someone who uses the initials MP. As they pursue the story further, the pranks begin to get more serious, even dangerous. Despite being warned to stop, Valerie and her team continue to pursue the story, and she and Jaggar end up growing closer as they do. Valerie is being fed information by a secret informant, and after she finds out about one girl being injured who tried to join the group, she gets a note saying the next candidate's initiation would be worse. The problem with that, is that the next initiate is someone going in under cover from her team. The question is, can she prevent this tragedy before it strikes and can Valarie and her team find out the identity of MP before it's too late?

Circle of Silence is both thrilling and mysterious, with just the right amount of romance thrown in. I really liked Valerie, she is a very driven and focused person, and she doesn't lose her head in the middle of a crisis. I also thought the camaraderie that developed between the team members added a lot to the book. I enjoyed the whole "news theme" that the story was centered around. As far as the romance, I have to agree with Valerie, Jaggar Voorham is really hot, and though their relationship ended on a bad note, it is nice to see them try to get past it. The plot was intriguing and mysterious, the romance was really sweet, and Valarie and her friends were fun to get to know. Circle of Silence is a great contemporary YA thriller that is a little scary and very mysterious, with a little romance in the mix. If you enjoy this type of story, then Circle of Silence is probably a book you will want to check out.

Told from a new perspective this book is great! I love the feeling of the same settinjg but different characters, different plotline.

Much like the first book, Val finds her herself in breaking story. A story of harmless pranks that turn harmful in a matter of mintues. I loved that Val is a true journalist. She ask questions, snoops around, sets up secret meetings. She does everything and anything she can do in order to obtain the informations that she needs.

During that story, Val is facing some uincertainy in her own life. With a home life that is crazy, Val looses herself in her love life/home life. Val is a typical teenager when it comes to situations. She allows one situtaion to consume her that she forgets everything else that is going on around her. Hence, her missing some BIG clues right under her nose.

The twist in the plot are awesome. Seriously, when all is revealed I couldn't help but yell,"I knew it!" I was so excited during this part, that I raced through then rest of the book. I adore how the author made sense of all the clues in the end coming together beautifully.

The love interest is great. This particular love interest is different being that this couple already had history. I like that their love in restored through friendship and a re-building of trust.

Circle of Silence is a great book. With a plot line that sustains the audience, it captures the reader with lots of emotions. Circle of Silence is thrilling yet scary. The striking resemblence that this can happen in real life makes the story bolder then ever!

I loved this book so much. On a personal level, I identified so much with the characters in this book. Alicia Ruffino, the main character, is a girl of mixed-heritage living in Brooklyn, NY. She spends her days as a regular high school student and her afternoons as a modern dance student. She lives with her single mother who works as a nurse and therefore works nights, so Ali (Alicia) spends a lot of time alone at home. This hit close to home. I lived between Dominican Republic/New York/Miami most of my life and I could totally relate to Ali's situation, that with my father being a doctor and spending so much time away from home. The author's description of life in New York as a teenager, the parks, the firescapes, the roofs. That, coupled with the fact that Ali's mother still used a beeper, made me feel like I was back in NY in the 1990's.Things turn sour when Ali agrees to let a friend record her dancing, hidden camera style, giving viewers the illusion that Ali was unaware she was being recorded and that the person recording her was a secret admirer. To Ali's surprise, the videos go viral and she becomes a video sensation. Suddenly many in her school treat her like a celebrity, while some treat her like she's someone craving for attention. She has the same kind of reactions at the studio where she studies dance, where her popularity is used in order to sell more tickets to a show, to Ali's dismay.Read full review at JJiReads.com

This book has such a creepy element to it. Alicia is being watched by a stalker after videos of her dancing are posted online. Everyone knows she is ‘dancergirl’ and she ends up with more attention than she could ever have bargained for. So when videos of her continue appearing online… videos she never knew were being taken, of her in her room dancing, Alicia knows that things have escalated.

What unfolds is a little bit of a who-dun-it style mystery where Ali and her friends have to try and narrow down who the stalker is one by one.

Whilst I think this story is aimed at teens aged 13 – 17 (and I’m much older!) I really thought the story had a strong moral behind it about the dangers of the internet – that we’re not all as anonymous as we think we are, and a fable for teens to be careful.

Highly entertaining, and I didn’t guess until close to the end who was responsible so that was refreshing also!!

I was a wee bit surprised when this thrilling new novel by Carol M. Tanzman didn't get an Edgar nod. This is the sort of book that defines the rush of reading mysteries -- the page-turning have-to-know-what's-next, the multiple suspects and the twists and turns as different characters are eliminated from suspicion, the wonderfully compelling main character. And, most chilling of all, the fact that this story could happen to you or to someone you know.

In DANCERGIRL, high school dancer Alicia earns her classes at the local studio by working there as a receptionist. She lives with her mom, who works night shifts as a nurse, and goes to regular classes with her best friend, Jacy, who lives down stairs, and their motley crew of pals. But when one of these pals posts a video of Alicia dancing online, she quickly becomes an online celebrity. No longer Alicia, but dancergirl, who is pursued by the fictional shyboy, a character made up by her videographer friend. As more and more videos go up, Alicia is gaining notoriety. But it's not feeling so good. Things are changing between her and Jacy, who has become beyond distant since he started at a new private high school. And there's lots of jealousy in the studio, with rumors flying about Alicia and her online videos. And then, the unimaginable happens. An innocent video project turns ugly when a video goes up that Alicia didn't pose for. It's a video of her dancing in her room. Someone has been watching her.

Carol M. Tanzman hits the nail on the head with Alicia's genuine voice, with the perfect timing and suspense, and with a mystery surrounding a truly creepy -- and truly relevant -- issue. And while it does have it's sweet, fun moments, DANCERGIRL is at its heart a thriller, and one that I highly recommend reading. Just, do yourself a favor, and don't read it alone in the dark like I did.½

Reviewed by Valerie
Review copy provided by Deb Shapiro and Company
I was intrigued by the premise for this book. Cameras. They’re everywhere now, all the time, and so tiny you can hardly see them. Videos. What happens when a video goes viral – and you’re in it? This is what happens to Alicia and her world.

Alicia has all sorts of problems once the video of her dancing goes viral. She knew her friend was taping her and was going to upload it but she thought the recognition might help her get into a prestigious dance school – what could it hurt? Her friends don’t know how to act towards her now, strangers recognize her, people say and post hateful things. She feels like she’s always being watched – all the time. Her best friend, Jacy, is acting weird which hurts Alicia most of all since she has feelings for him. I liked Jacy – he was a very sweet romantic interest.

As the book’s momentum takes off, Alicia has to figure out who watched her video and is still watching her – stalking her. At this point, I felt like I was there with her and had goosebumps and felt those little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. To what lengths would the stalker go with his obsession? Would Alicia ever be able to dance again after this video fiasco?

A very realistic story relevant to today’s trends with likable characters.

Quote: "The sick feeling that someone's staring at me. Only I'm not on the subway. Or the bus. Or even a park bench. I'm in my bedroom. Alone." Prologue

Reviewed at http://www.mandikayereads.com/archives/181

dancergirl is a cautionary tale of what could happen when your face goes viral on the internet – Alicia Ruffino gets a stalker. The problem with cautionary tales is that they all end up feeling the same – like an after-school special from the 90s.

Alicia’s passion is dance, but once she realizes she has a stalker, she freezes up and doesn’t want to give him more ammunition. Her friends rally around her to learn the identity of the stalker. It doesn’t take long before Alicia sees her stalker on every corner and in the eyes of every classmate.

While I found the story interesting enough to finish in a single sitting, I can’t help but feel preached to after having finished it. The novel definitely had a moral tone to it, and I’m a little curious to see how the rest of the series will play out.

For me, dancergirl was one of those books where I didn't really enjoy it, but I just had to keep reading because I felt like I needed to know what was going to happen.

Ali was so paranoid during this book that it was almost funny. Of course, halfway through the book, she definitely had a reason to be paranoid, but even when she was on a date with Luke, I just wanted to smack her and then laugh. It was a bit ridiculous.

There were also lots of parts I found myself extremely bored during. I just wanted to either skim or stop reading. And the worst part was that there would be a really good part, something very interesting, and my hopes would go up, but then a few pages later it was boring again.

One thing I wish we'd seen more of is the best friend relationship between Jacy and Ali. Their relationship didn't really feel like a best friend one to me. Not even a romantic one. The only best friend-type moment they had was when a little Batman incident. I loved how Jacy basically saved the day, but that doesn't mean they're best friends, it just means Jacy's a good guy.

I will admit that I never saw the identity of the stalker coming. There were plenty of suspects, there could have been even more, but I never would have guessed it was who it really was. Tanzman did a good job at keeping us guessing, and dancergirl was fairly suspenseful.

Even though I'm not a dancer and therefore didn't understand some of the dance terms in this book, my favorite parts were actually when Ali was dancing. Tanzman did an amazing job at capturing Ali's emotions during these parts.

Overall: dancergirl just didn't hold my interest. The characters fell a bit flat for me, and I feel like it all moved too slowly. While the identity of the stalker was definitely a surprise, it was honestly the only thing I liked about this book, other than the dance scenes. 2 stars.

I love the idea of this book. A stalker right under your nose watching your every move. Literally. As I began this book, I felt deeply connected with the characters as well as the plot. To know that someone is watching you out there is a really freaking thought. Ms. Tanzman takes the reader everywhere with her in her writing.

I loved the characters in the book. They started off with a fun video quickly spiraled into a nightmare. I like how not only the reader, but the characters became suddenly aware that this video is no joke. When other private videos began showing up on the internet really made my hair rise. The reader feels the stressful emotions of others not taking it as seriously as they should. One thing I learned is the trust your gut when something like this happens.

The plot of this book really grabs the reader because it is something that happen everyday in world. People don't realize the amount of information they put up on the web and how easily it is for others to see it and know who/where you are. There are some real sickos out there. Ms. Tanzman connects her readers with the strong emotions she puts in her writing. I adore that I am able to feel the need to look over my shoulder while reading this. (Just wanted to make sure no one is secretly watching me LOL)

I would have loved to see the love interest a bit more in the book. I do however, enjoyed that they learned and trusted each other during some really tough moments. I can only hope in the next book the love interest will really play out more.

If you want to read about the easy possibility of someone coming out to stalk you read this book. It will make you think twice on what you publish on the world wide web. It will give you hair rising moments and fear rushing through your heart when you get that feeling that you are not alone.

When I requested “dancergirl” from NetGalley, I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect. While it sounded intriguing, I certainly was not expecting it to enjoy it as much as I did. The story is about Alicia Ruffino, a young girl studying dance. She lives for it. Until she becomes dancergirl and she unexpectedly finds herself being watched by a stranger. The story does start off rather slow, but once the first video goes viral, you will find yourself consumed by Ali’s story.

While out with friends, Ali finds herself lost in the music – and the focus of her friend’s video camera. Charlie later uploads the video online, and overnight, Ali transforms into dancergirl. The video managed to go viral and Charlie talks Ali into recording a few more. But when a video finds its way online of Ali dancing around in her room – in her underwear – things begin to unravel, and she’s suddenly desperate to break free of dancergirl.

Tanzman created realistic, likable characters. Each and every one of them had their flaws, including Ali, but that’s what made them real. The way that Ali reacts after finding out about the stalker – the fear, the anger, the distrust – it felt real. You feel it as you read along. Same with the secondary characters. They weren’t just thrown in for the sake of dialogue. They all had stories, each just as important as Ali’s (especially Jacy and Charlie). I really enjoyed that about “dancergirl”.

“dancergirl” kept me on the edge of my seat. I had my guesses on who was responsible – most of which were wrong. And I absolutely loved that. While “dancergirl” is the beginning of a series, it’s tied up rather nicely in the end (which is why I’m eager to see where this series goes from here). I’d highly recommend this one.

The premise of dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman is what most attracted me to read the novel. There really aren't many things more intense than a stalker situation. On top of that, this book focuses on dance and I love a good book about performing arts. (Granted, I love a good book about basically anything.)

dancergirl had exactly what I expected and more. Not only was there a creepy stalker situation and a lot of dance, but there were also fully realized relationships. Every relationship from the boy best friend to the single mother seemed authentic. I also liked that the other characters had their own goals, problems, and frustrations that occurred simultaneously with--and sometimes impacting--Ali. That always gives a story a fuller feel and makes it more realistic for me.

Throughout the story, Ali is trying to figure out the identity of the mysterious stalker. Fingers are pointed at friends, strangers, and everyone in between. I enjoyed trying to figure it out for myself, often wondering if it was a character we'd met or one who would be new to us when revealed. No spoilers here, so you'll have to figure it out for yourself.

Another thing I liked about dancergirl is that it is a complete story. With so many series out today, it's nice to read a standalone. That is...until I realized it's actually the start of a series.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with it being a series. I'm just a bit confused about how it's going to work. For me, the main plot of dancergirl is the stalker situation. After having it wrapped up, I don't see what a book two could be about that would still keep it having the same feel as the first. Sure, I imagine Ali's story as a dancer continues, but without the stalker aspect, it would feel like a different book to me. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

dancergirl is a highly enjoyable contemporary book. I'd recommend it even if contemporary isn't usually your thing.

Final thoughts: Borrow or buy.