Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold

Gr 9 Up—The second installment in Finn's series picks up right where Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend (Feiwel & Friends, 2014) ended. Gemma's secret identity has been revealed. It was her ex-best friend, Hallie, who has been playing pranks against Gemma all summer. Though part of her longs to run back to the safety of her hometown, Gemma also wants revenge. The war between the two is escalating, this time with the assistance of a burgeoning teen filmmaker and a tech-savvy boy whom Gemma is starting to see in a new light. She eventually devises her own pranks against Hallie; unfortunately, Gemma's family and friends are caught in the crosshairs, with unpredictable consequences. While the pranks are amusing, it is clear that the girls are hurting each other. This follow-up is easy to jump into; Finn adroitly incorporates details of the first book into this story, getting readers caught up quickly. This book is easy entertainment. The characters are stock types: the cute, nice guy; the mean ex-best friend; and the scatterbrained father. There is not a lot to differentiate this book from the many others already on the shelves.