The strange book mentioned in the title is the RL (Real Life) book that each girl reads while dealing with her real-life issues (as opposed to a fantasy adventure or historical fiction). This series provides a wholesome alternative to other series in popular literature, contemporary teen fiction.
In Boyfriends, Burritos& an Ocean of Trouble (Real Life), Bryn has been good at keeping secrets, even about her boyfriend's abusive behavior. When a car accident reveals the truth and unleashes trouble, her friends don't believe her, and her world unravels.
Her athlete boyfriend and friends blame her for the accident. When she decides to tell the truth and press charges, she is alienated by them. Her grandmother arrives to help her live through the process of going to court, and teaches her how to surf and make Mexican cuisine. She learns that telling the truth has a price as she faces name calling, threats, and more.
Like Jessie, she also finds a mysterious RL book that could hold the secret to riding out the tidal wave her life has become since the car accident. Through it, she learns about Yeshua, the main character, and the book seems to meet her where she is at, emotionally and spiritually.
This book can be easily read by students 5th grade and up. It's not a heavy book that promises false hope, but one that shows how a real girl faces her personal demons and tries to search for spiritual significance. In the next book Boyfriends, Burritos& an Ocean of Trouble (Real Life)), it is an abusive relationship and what happens when you stand up for the truth. In the first book, Motorcycles, Sushi& One Strange Book (Real Life), it is dealing with ADHD and a dysfunctional family.
5 stars for an excellent read -- can't wait to read the 3rd book, coming out in the fall! I'm passing my copy on to a middle school friend.
----Taken from review published in CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL (April 2010).