The Secret of a Heart Note
By Lucinda Dyer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Captivating, quirky story about a girl who can "smell" love.
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What's the Story?
In THE SECRET OF A HEART NOTE, Mimosa is torn between living out her family legacy as an aromatuer and discovering her own future. She and her free-spirited single mother have a business creating herbal and flower elixirs for clients in search of romance. The problem is, Mimosa's mother has her working almost full time in the business. Only recently has she allowed her daughter to enroll in high school rather than continue to be homeschooled. Mimosa's thrilled about attending school, but it isn't long before her gift begins to get her into all kinds of trouble. An elixir created to help her algebra teacher woo the school librarian is accidentally taken by the mother of Court, a boy Mimosa really likes. Then, she's blackmailed into brewing an elixir that will make Court fall back in love with his ex-girlfriend. And what if she can't find the recipe she needs to make a fall-out-of-love potion for Court's mother? If this isn't trouble enough, Mimosa thinks she's lost her "nose" after an innocent kiss with Court.
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat and engaging coming-of-age novel is an utterly captivating and sometimes zany mixture of romance, fantasy, and the challenges of contemporary teen life. While a plot line built around magical elixirs may seem a bit far fetched, the story is grounded by the smart and relatable character of Mimosa. Readers who are fans of fantasy will love elements like the potion Mimosa sprays on boys to keep them from falling in love with her. Readers looking for a darker story that tackles issues around drugs or teen sex should look elsewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teens making choices for their future. In The Secret of a Heart Note, Mimosa thinks her family history may well determine her future. Do you ever feel that your family has dreams and expectations for you that are different from your own?
Mimosa's world revolves around plants, flowers, and nature. How difficult would it be for you to find a balance between your indoor digital life and spending time in outdoor activities?
Mimosa's best friend Kali finally comes to out to the entire school. Are LGBT students at your school "out," or is there pressure for them to say silent?
Book Details
- Author: Stacey Lee
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models , High School , Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date: January 21, 2017
- Number of pages: 376
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 26, 2017
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