Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature)
This delightfully-funny epistolary novel describes exactly how one small misdeed snowballs into a huge family and community problem. Exuberant Frankie reads a private email to her dad, and immediately runs to her diary: “I’m practically fainting. Dad met somebody named Ayanna and kissed her.” Frankie does not talk to her Dad; instead, she emails the distant Ayanna, saying “stop emailing.” Frankie’s lies get bigger and bigger, even as she builds a relationship with Ayanna. Soon she is forging notes to the school counselor, hacking into her father’s business email address with the help of a friend, and cheating on tests--all in the interest of protecting her Mom’s memory. Ayanna consistently offers good advice, and Frankie continues to do the wrong thing until she loses her brother, starts a fire in the oven, and struggles with the moral question of whether she should befriend an isolated boy. This fast-moving plot is tied together with intriguing information on naked mole-rats (Ayanna is a small-mammal zoo keeper), terrific characters, and great lessons on life to be learned by both Dad and Frankie: do not keep secrets; talk things out. Special treats include the various email closings (curiously yours, hopefully helpfully yours) and Frankie’s attempts to check her spelling (relevations--revealations? revelations?). 2005, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 11))
Seventh-grader Frankie Wallop has enough problems: No mother, two wild younger brothers and a perfect reputation to uphold. She certainly does not need a father who is dating, especially if he's distance dating a naked mole-rat expert who lives in Washington D.C. From their home computer in Pepper Blossom, Ind., Frankie tries to nip the relationship in the bud by intercepting e-mails and sending false responses. One lie leads to another and soon her life is in shambles. Her grades slip; a pizza fire that's her fault blackens their kitchen; one brother is spying incessantly and the other is missing. Help comes from an unexpected source: Ratlady-and all ends well. Shifting between e-mails and diary entries, Amato does a good job of portraying Frankie's inner turmoil and creating the atmosphere of a very small town. At times, the convention of the diary entry seems forced; there is length and detail a bit out of proportion with Frankie's age and free time. However, middle-graders looking for a realistic summer read with laughs and a few misty-eyed moments won't be disappointed. 2005, Holiday House, 266p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2006)
Appalled that her widowed father is e-mailing a woman he met while at a conference in Washington, D.C., twelve-year-old Frankie attempts to discourage the relationship by e-mailing the woman lies about her father and her brothers. Naturally, all the lying catches up with her in the end. While some incidents don't ring true, Frankie is a believable and compelling character. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2005, Holiday, 266pp, 16.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.