Review Detail

‘The Zee Files: All That Glitters’ by Tina Wells is a nice, easygoing follow-up to the first book in the series. Zee is still unsure of her standing at her new school, as well as with one of her oldest friends, Jasper, and the boy she likes, Archie. As the book progresses, she finds that she has some newfound confidence that is allowing her to stand up for herself. This might be the result of her father arranging trips to a therapist for her, all as a means of helping her to acclimate more easily to her new school and social life.

Zee is getting ready for the biggest talent show of the year, the Creative Arts Festival, and she intends to perform a song. When her roommate and other friends make her feel on the outskirts of their circle, she grows a bit weary of trying to fit in, and in doing so, she realizes that telling them how she feels brings about a newfound respect for her that they may not have had before.

Visiting one of her best friends in Paris and chatting with the other one on video calls from California isn’t easy, but it brings her a semblance of normalcy that she worried she’d lose when she moved overseas to England.

All Zee wants is to find a place for herself, to fit in, and to do well in her performance at the Creative Arts Festival. Her life as a ninth grader hangs in the balance. Tina Wells does a nice job showing Zee’s character, and how she relates to others. The illustrations add depth to the story and characters. This is a fun, entertaining sequel in Zee’s high school life.