Anna Hays

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Nothing good ever comes out of an earthquake. Objects fall and some shatter, and your pet cat becomes frightened for days. Portia totally understands all of this since her home is in California.

However, this earthquake was different from all the others. Waking her a few hours before when she was really supposed to be up, the earthquake resulted in her finding a picture of the father she always wanted to know. Her mother has been no help with Portia's curiosity about her father, since she automatically changes the subject when his name is brought up. Portia knows that this picture that was behind another picture has to be her dad.

The only moments she has with her father, Patch, are in her dreams - literally. Portia receives postcards from him whenever she dreams in her sleep, and the only thing she knows about him is that he is undercover solving a mystery. The way he looks in the picture definitely proves that he is a detective, and Portia is certain that she inherited the detective gene. Portia always keeps data about friends, family, and even strangers, and is always looking at details.

She obviously can't ask her mother about the picture, since she just isn't any help at all. So all Portia has to do is discover who her father really is, and where he is - all while surviving school, annoying friends, the "healthy" food that her mom provides for her, and even boys!?

Move over Harriet the Spy... Portia's in town.

PORTIA'S ULTRA MYSTERIOUS DOUBLE LIFE is a quick, fun, and entertaining read. Nothing can get past Portia and it definitely shows. Throughout the novel she collects observations, descriptions, and anything she deems suspicious. Anna Hays takes her readers on a thrilling ride with quirky characters and a wonderful plot. With a cliffhanger to end the book, let's just hope that another installment is in the works.… (mehr)

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Once again Portia is on the case. There's a new girl at the middle school. Her name is Misty, and she's determined to make Portia her new best friend, in addition to getting Portia's help with a serious problem.

Portia is excited to have a new detective case and dives right in helping her new friend. The case involves a rabbit named Maxwell. He's one of the stray animals Misty has an uncanny knack for finding and bringing home. Although her mother doesn't approve, she can't seem to avoid running into animals with problems. Along with Maxwell the depressed bunny, she is dealing with a three-legged grasshopper that escapes in Portia's mother's restaurant, The Tent.

Needless to say, Misty is keeping Portia busy.

In other plot action, Portia is still searching for her absent father, Patch. She is hoping for new developments in that case and gets one from an unlikely source, Vera, owner of Trash and Treasures.

There is also a possible romantic interest in Portia's life. Webster the math genius seems to be trying to get Portia's attention with what he says is an important question.

Indigo's restaurant is once again a backdrop for much of the action. This time the menu item of interest is the pomegranate, and Portia finds herself sampling all sorts of crazy concoctions her mother creates.

PORTIA'S EXCLUSIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL RULES ON TRUE FRIENDSHIP is a fun read with whimsical characters, a bit of mystery, and insightful comments regarding the meaning of friendship.

Portia offers a needed breath of fresh air in tween lit. She doesn't worry about make-up, hair styles, and fashion magazines. Instead, she focuses on family and friends and helping make the world a better place.… (mehr)