Circle Of Silence

By Carol M. Tanzman

It's my turn to run a Campus News crew, and I've put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover– if only we can find a lead.

A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets...until a student lands in the hospital under strange circumstances.

I will blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt...or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don't trust him yet. (And no, not because of our past together. That is not important to this story).

But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera, or a victim in the top story of the newscast...be sure to watch Campus News at 9:00am this Friday morning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Aug 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781460804780

Carol M. Tanzman

Carol M. Tanzman is an award-winning theatre director and nationally recognized arts educator. Her first YA novel, The Shadow Place, was a YALSA's Quick Pick, an NCTE ALAN Best Book, and was listed in the CA Collection for Middle & Senior High Schools. In addition to her Harlequin Teen books dancergirl and Circle of Silence, she is a contributing poet to the Dare to Dream…Change the World anthology.

Book preview

PART ONE

SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER

1

My sweaty palm pushes the Media Center door open on the second day of senior year. The single most important class of my life is about to begin.

Don’t look so worried, Val, Marci tells me. We got this covered.

I give my best friend since eighth grade a pained look. Sunny Marci. Always seeing the bright side. Except this time, she’s especially naive. There’s no way it’s a sure thing.

Together, we move to the table Mr. Carleton assigned to us. Yesterday, he divided the class into two permanent Campus News teams. First order of business today: each crew votes for producer. The job I covet. The position I worked really hard, during both sophomore and junior years at Washington Irving High School, to get. If mine, it could propel me straight into the college of my dreams.

I steal a glance at my competition. Raul Ortega. His dark chocolate eyes take everything in. Taller by about three inches than me, he wears his hair in a brush cut that tops a solid body. Raul’s definitely the guy you want on your side in a fight. Not that he’s a hothead. On the contrary, the dude’s cool. He knows his way around TV Production almost as well as I do. Exactly the reason he might get more votes than me.

He feels my look, turns. Grins nervously. Oh yeah, Raul wants it, too. The real question is: which of us does the group want? Besides Marci Lee, the team consists of Omar Bryant and Henry Dillon. With five votes, there won’t be a tie.

Mr. Carleton takes attendance and then says, Okay, folks, you know what to do.

For a moment, our table is silent. Afraid that I’ll come off as either too confident or too bossy, I resist the urge to take charge. Raul’s busy giving the other two boys meaningful glances. A sinking feeling hits the pit of my stomach. Did he talk to them last night? Make them promise to vote for him?

That would totally suck.

Marci jumps in. Energetically, she tears a piece of paper into five pieces. You all have something to write with?

Henry whips out a pen. A classic overachiever, he skipped both second and third grades, won a national award for drawing in eighth and captains the chess team.

I’ve got extras!

Underneath the curtain of brown hair that covers his forehead, Henry shoots Marci puppy dog eyes. He’s been quietly crushing on her for at least a year. Quietly—since she’s dating a football player. Doesn’t matter to Henry. He’d probably faint if Marci actually kissed him.

Omar extends a well-manicured hand. I forgot a pencil.

Forgot? Marci counters. Or never had one in the first place?

He wriggles his eyebrows. She indulges him a laugh before handing over a slip of paper.

At first glance, Omar Bryant’s a diva. When he was eight, he put on a sparkly cape for Halloween and refused to take it off until Christmas. Didn’t care what anyone said—then or now. But dig deeper and you’ll hit the sensitive soul of a true artist. Everyone in Campus News knows he has a great eye and a steady hand. When he gets behind the lens, his focus is total.

Marci hands out the rest of the paper. Names are scribbled. Without a word, we all fold the slips into tiny squares, as if that can disguise who voted for whom. Five tiny bundles are tossed onto the table.

I’ll count. Carefully, Marci unfolds the first piece of paper. Valerie Gaines.

I keep my face neutral because that doesn’t mean much. It’s either my vote—or hers. The second paper has Raul’s name on it. So does the third.

A wave of disappointment hits. I told Marci I might not win. Not if it’s boys vs. girls—with the boys outnumbering us.

Marci gives me a cheerful look after unwrapping the fourth vote. ValGal.

Obviously, that’s hers. The score’s tied. Raul leans forward, triumph etched across his face. I can practically see the writing inside the final piece of paper.

Raul Ortega.

Valerie, Marci says.

What?

She waves the slip. The last vote’s for you. You won!

The shock on my face is genuine. As is the surprise in Raul’s eyes. Marci shoots me an I told you smile before prancing to the whiteboard. She grabs an orange marker and writes Valerie Gaines, B Team Producer.

Mr. Carleton nods. Team A, you have a winner?

Scott Jenkins raises his hand. His stick-up sand-colored hair and square jaw make him look skinnier than he actually is. Given who’s on A Team, he’s the person I’d vote for, too.

Scott’s good but I’m better. I work harder. I care more. I won’t ever let my team down.

The teacher heaves himself out of his chair. Good choices, folks. Now listen up! Rule review so you can’t say you didn’t know ’em when you break ’em. Each show consists of four segments, no more, no less, interspersed with anchor ins and outs. Sixteen minutes total. Remember to look for the angle. What’s the way into the story? Teams alternate weekly broadcasts. B Team’s up first, then A.

Which doesn’t make sense. You’d think A Team would start because, well, it’s first in the alphabet. But that’s how Mr. Carleton thinks. Roundabout. And backward.

Last three rules. First— he holds up an index finger —a Question Sheet must be filled out before every interview. Two fingers go up. "Rude behavior or fooling around in hallways when you’re shooting Will. Not. Be. Tolerated. Third. Do notopen a case unless it’s on a table or the ground because equipment in said case will fall out. If it breaks, your folks pay. Trust me, they Will. Not. Be. Happy."

Mr. Carleton, a portly African-American man, keeps his head shaved smoothly and his desk immaculate, proof positive that he’s a fan of the less is more theory. Tightly edited sequences, one-word sentences.

He continues with basic equipment sign-out procedures. When he’s done, he glances at the clock. Okay, teams, with whatever time’s left, start planning your first broadcast.

Excited, I pull out my Campus News notebook, but before anyone can say a word, the door flies open. Every head turns.

Omigod! Marcis hisses. "What’s he doing here?"

My heart takes a nosedive straight into my stomach.

Jagger Voorham! Pouty, rocker-boy lips, hazel eyes that change color according to his mood, and yes, supercute. Slacker Jagger crosses the room without bothering to look at anyone, including me. As if he doesn’t know I’d be front and center.

He hands Mr. Carleton a mustard-yellow Schedule Change form. The teacher frowns.

Don’t worry, Marci, I whisper. Carleton’ll never let him into the class. Jags didn’t take Intro. He can’t be in Advanced.

Resolutely, I tap the notebook and try to discuss stories for the first broadcast. But everyone’s focus is on the quiet conversation at the front of the room. Finally the teacher nods.

B Team! Mr. Carleton points a finger at Jagger. New member.

Do something, Marci mouths.

Like what? Throw myself under a bus? Jump off the Brooklyn Bridge? Drop the class?

Jagger saunters over. I look down, refusing to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his existence. There’s no way I want him—or anyone else in the room—to see the tears of frustration forming hot in my eyes.

How could Jagger do this to me? My triumphant moment—ruined!

My BFF, a four-foot-eleven, barely one-hundred-pound Korean dynamo, kicks me. I don’t have to look at Marci to know what she’s thinking.

Who wants to deal with Jagger all year?

That’s the moment the bell rings. Everyone in class jumps up, as if electroshocked into obedience. Mr. Carleton gestures. Stay a moment, Val?

Marci glances at me, but I wave her on. Scott Jenkins smirks as he passes, knowing my team’s just been saddled with a complete neophyte. Hailey Manussian, on the other hand, shoots me a look of sheer hatred—or maybe it’s jealousy. Like most girls at WiHi, Hailey’s probably going through an if only Jagger wanted to get into my pants phase.

Backpack on shoulder, I walk to the teacher’s desk.

I put Jagger Voorham on your team, Carleton tells me.

The blood rushes to my cheeks at the mere mention of his name. I noticed.

He can’t fit Intro into his schedule. I let him in because he’s a senior like the rest of the class. Although that doesn’t mean you let him slide. He needs to do his share. Show him the ropes, won’t you, Val?

Despite the fact that I find it hard to breathe, I put on a tough act. Sure, Mr. Carleton. I’ll kick his butt.

The teacher laughs. I bet you will. He points to a couple of Student Emmy Awards gathering dust on the shelf above his desk. Get those stories, girl. I’m counting on you to win us another.

No pressure, I say.

His bald head gleams. "Would it be Campus News if there wasn’t?"

* * *

The last bell of the day is like a tsunami warning on a Pacific island. The halls explode as almost two thousand kids run for higher ground—which in this case means lockers and exit doors. I elbow my way down the corridor with just the tiniest bit of amazement. Even though the school was cleaned over the summer, initials are already chalked across the walls.

Marci stands in front of her locker, fiddling with her lock.

Maybe you should try your new combination, I tell her. That’s last year’s.

She frowns as she searches her backpack for the combo paper the homeroom teachers hand out. Why can’t they let us keep the same lockers every year?

The mysteries of WiHi are…mysterious, Marci.

The metal door pops open. She switches a book and we head down the steps. I can’t believe I forgot to ask at lunch. What did Carleton want?

We’re supposed to show Jagger the ropes.

Not we. You’re the one who knows everything. I only take TV so we can hang. She lowers her voice. Think you can get him to switch Jagger to A team?

What am I supposed to say?

The guy’s a killer. Broke your heart and scattered the pieces without a second thought.

Ouch. Rip the scab right off the wound, why don’t you?

Outside, the afternoon sun makes me blink. At least, that’s what I tell myself. September in Brooklyn Heights is like an iPod on shuffle. Summer weather, fall weather, and everything in between. This week it’s end-of-summer-with-hints-of-autumn. That means it’s too nice to have been stuck in school obsessing about Jagger Voorham for the past five hours.

Mr. Carleton gave me permission to kick his butt if he screws up, I tell her.

Like that’ll help. He was my dialogue partner in French III, remember?I wanted to murder the kid, but I swear Mademoiselle Reynaud’s in love with him. Two-faced dog if ever there was one.

Jagger or Mademoiselle Reynaud?

The French teacher is ninety years old and mean as a pit bull. She’s been teaching so long they’re thinking about naming the language hall bathrooms after her. Or maybe just a stall.

You know who I mean, Marci sniffs.

I do—and I’m just as pissed off as she is. Why does Jagger have to ruin twelfth grade the way he did eleventh? For months, we were lip-locked and then one night, he finds someone else to soothe his tortured soul. Or whatever that stupid cliché is. The fact that I wasn’t enough for him, that I didn’t even know I wasn’t enough, left a cavernous hole deep inside me.

I can ask Mr. Carleton to switch him, Marci pleads. I don’t mind.

I shake my head. Scott’ll never take him. Plus, Mr. C. specifically asked me to help.

Worse and worse, she mumbles softly.

I heard that! You’re not helping, Marci.

Sorry! It’s just…I don’t want to see you hurt again.

Again? I almost laugh. Watching Jagger walk into the Media Center made it clear that the hurt had never gone away. It just got buried inside the hole at the center of my life.

I’ll just have to deal with it. With him. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?

My best friend shakes her head. Not exactly the choice I was going for!

2

Tony’s Pizzeria is a Heights institution. Old-school booths with Formica tables, cracked leather seats and the best pizza in a town known for excellent pies. It’s on Montague, Brooklyn Heights’ main street, in between Moving Arts Dance Studio and an antique shop.

Marci waits in line while I scout a table. The place is packed with WiHi’s hungriest. I zero in on a couple of newbies. I can tell they’ve just launched their high school career because they have that haunted how did I survive the second day of ninth grade? look—damn! Bethany!

My sister started WiHi yesterday, too. Mom made me promise I’d walk her home all week.

I hit my cell. Bethany has the same lame one I do because my parents get a two for the price of one deal. It’s not hard to imagine my sister staring at the caller ID while she decides whether or not to answer.

She does—an instant before it goes to voice mail. What do you want?

Are you at your locker? I—

I’m home. Did you really expect me to wait?

And you didn’t think to tell me? What if I’m searching every inch of WiHi—

You’re not. You’re at Tony’s. With Marci.

The surrounding din has sold me out. How was your second day?

How do you think?

The line goes dead. I give the freshmen the evil eye, as though one of them were my pain-in-the-butt sister. They look terrified, finish eating quickly and stumble away. Less than ten seconds later, Marci maneuvers over, juggling two slices and a couple of lemonades.

A little help? she asks.

Sorry. I grab the cups before she drops one.

Marci slides into the booth. Okay, Valerie, spill. What’s the matter?

I don’t even ask how she knows something’s wrong. Bethany. She hung up in my ear.

Marci reaches for the jar of hot pepper flakes. At least your sister hates someone besides me.

Bethany doesn’t hate you.

Does, too, she insists.

Does not. My best friend cocks an eyebrow. Well, not more than she hates anyone else, I concede.

Folding my pizza in half, I shove it in my mouth. Tony’s slow-simmered sauce, gooey melted cheese and crisp crust instantly improve my mood. You know, he’ll make a great anchor.

Marci chokes. Jagger? Val—

It’s my job as producer to use the resources of the team wisely, I say primly.

She rolls her eyes. Right. Oh, and congratulations.

There’s something so self-satisfied about the way it comes out that it makes me suspicious. Fess up, Marci. How were you so sure I’d win?

She busies herself with the pizza, shaking oregano over the slice. Because you deserve it. Because you’re the best—

The light dawns. Because you talked Henry into voting for me. Marci Lee! That’s cheating.

Riigght. Like Raul didn’t get there first.

I sit back into the wine-red banquette. Are you sure? I mean, okay, I thought I saw him give the boys a look.

Marci nods. "Me, too. I think he spoke to them after class yesterday. Before I talked to Henry. So I don’t feel the teensiest bit bad about it."

What did you say—wait. Let me guess. You hit him with your killer smile and told him how much it would mean if your best friend got chosen producer.

She finishes chewing. It’s not as if you don’t deserve it. Henry knows that.

So you didn’t have to promise him a date?

Valerie Gaines! You should kiss my cute little Asian feet right now, not yell at me.

She’s right. I hoped I’d win because more people wantedme to be producer than Raul. Without Marci watching my back, I’d be wallowing in despair at this very moment.

Thank you.

You’re welcome. She leans across the table. The right person got the job, Val—as long as you stay focused. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I cross my heart. A double sign—of promise and of locking it up tight.

Excellent. Marci grins. And I promise that as long as I don’t have to miss soccer practice or a game, I’ll do anything you want.

I’ll cover for you in TV whenever you need it. I tip my lemonade toward hers.

Always and forever, Marci replies, evoking our longtime sisterly vow with a return tap of her glass.

Exactly the reason Bethany hates us.

* * *

A little after six o’clock, I barge into the bedroom.

Mom sent me up here to tell you it’s time to eat, I inform my sister.

The Gaines family, all six of us, live in a three-story brick row house. We occupy the first two floors. My parents rent the top apartment to a succession of young professionals, none of whom seem able to hold on to their jobs for very long.

Our kitchen, living and dining rooms are on the ground level. Three bedrooms take up the second floor. That means Bethany and I share, as do our six-year-old-twin brothers, Jesse and James. They think it’s the best thing since the invention of the Oreo cookie; I’d live on the fire escape if Mom would let me.

Right now my sister’s wearing earbuds. I know she sees me because I’m standing over her bed. Still, she pretends she doesn’t.

I lift the buds. Dinnertime.

Not interested.

Bethany, if you don’t eat, Dad will start in on how you’re so skinny and Mom will get crazy about anorexia—

I’m not anorexic, she whines.

I know. You eat plenty after everyone goes to sleep.

That’s when I’m hungry.

Tell it to the parents. Right now it’s your turn to set the table. If I end up doing it, you wash the pans, whether you eat or not. It’s pot roast. Emphasis on pots.

I hate pot roast. Bethany swings her long, thin legs across the bed, kicking me in the shins before I can jump aside.

Jerk, I mutter.

Asshole, she says.

I start toward my sister like I’m gonna kick her butt. She takes off, which was my plan all along. Slamming the door, I throw myself onto my bed, next to the window and as far from my sister’s as I can get it.

Bethany Ann Gaines. Her long brown hair is barely wavy, as if even her follicles can’t be bothered to curl right. She inherited Dad’s straight teeth, though, never needing braces the way I did. But now I have a perfect smile and Mom’s auburn hair, just red enough to give me natural highlights. I keep it shoulder length like my fave TV reporter, Channel 5’s Emily Purdue.

It’s not only looks that separate us. Bethany is, well, boring. It would be totally cool to have a sister who scribbled angry poetry on the edges of her homework. Or a computer whiz who didn’t have to ask me how to do every little thing. I’d even take a boy-crazy chick with awesome taste in clothes—but that’s not her.

Then there are the twins. Jesse and James—my dad’s not very funny joke—live up to theircollective fugitive name by constantly getting into one mess after another. The amount of screaming, yelling and arguing that goes on in this house would send shy Henry to the loony bin for sure.

There is, however, one advantage to a large family that only-child Marci can never claim. As long as I make decent grades (I do) and don’t get into trouble (I don’t), nobody’s in my business. It’s not that my folks don’t care. With the chaos of four kids and two jobs, the parents are overwhelmed.

Which is the reason no one knew how destroyed I was last year. Perversely, I stare at the ceiling and tick off Jagger’s traits. Egotistical, manipulative and extremely charming. Pretty much a lethal combination. He has this way of talking to you like you’re the only person in the world—

My cell rings.

What do you think MP stands for? Marci asks.

Not Marci Lee. Why? Who’s MP?

Phil called. After practice, he and the guys saw those two letters chalked all over the place.

Phil Colletti is

Reviews for Circle Of Silence

[starrk_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this digital galley, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.Goodreads Summary: The biggest story of my life could be how it ends. It’s my turn to run a Campus News crew, and I’ve put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead. A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets—until a student lands in the hospital under strange circumstances. I will blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt... …or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don’t trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is not important to this story.) But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera or a victim in the top story of the newscast be sure to watch Campus News at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.My thoughts: Valerie, a reporter for Campus News , is working on the story of her life. But the cost must be her life. MP starts with small pranks but soon they escalate and someone gets hurt. As the B team races to uncover MP’s identity and purpose, the danger increases and the enemy is closer to home. Okay, I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading Circle of Silence. I think that this was a pretty decent read, though it didn’t create a whole lot of excitement. I like the characters and their interactions with each other. Val and Bethany’s relationship is awkward. No, they don’t get along with each other and it’s normal for sisters to be distant with each other. But there were moments that Val actually reached out and tried to connect with Bethany. Bethany is the little sister, and for her there is a mixture of emotions that she is dealing with: jealousy and not having a group to belong to (just to name a couple). Regardless of the awkwardness, there was a lot of love within the family. This fact makes some of the events that happen a little unbelievable. As far as the romance, not every story requires a love triangle and I tend to avoid triangles. There were an equal amount of reasons for both guys, but ultimately I think Val made too big a deal out of choosing. It is high school though. My favorite part of the book was how B-team worked together and going after the stories. I did like the characters and the passion that they had for their pursuits.Recommendation: While I think that there is a lot of room to increase the tension and excitement within the story, I did enjoy it. And I still think that it’s worth checking out. 3 stars ***

[arlenadean · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Author: Carol M TanzmanPublished By: Hanlequin Teen Age Recommended: YA Reviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 4Review:"Circle of Silence" by Carol M. Tanzman was a second installment of the WiHi series and I thought this was a very intriguing read that I couldn't put down until the end. This was indeed interesting mystery that was thrilling to see how this author was able to tell this story from a 'news team view point and the point of the MP' keeping this going on throughout this novel. This is definitely a novel that will keep the reader captivated and hanging on every word as the tension grows as the story progresses. There will be even a little romance thrown in. The story is of a senior Valerie Gaines who wants her senior year to really countand she is the producer of "Campus News". Valerie wants badly to win the school's Emmy Award to help get into the top university of journalism of her choice. But will this happen? Problems arise when Valerie's ex boy-friend, Jagger has join the news class and is on her team...then there has been "pranksters whose pranks seem to be getting more and more dangerous that uses the initials MP." The MP's were a "group of teenage outcasts tired of being ignored and humiliated every day decide to take revenge on people around them." For the pledge these member make to their group to keep silent really will be something. Who knew that Valerie not only had to find out who is behind all of this, but also will getting this story be worth risking her own life? "The question is, can she prevent this tragedy before it strikes and can Valarie and her team find out the identity of MP before it's too late." The characters were all a interesting group from Valerie, Marci, Raul, Jagger, Omar, Mr.Carleton, Scott Jenkins, Bethany, Jesse, James, Phil, Henry, Mrs. G, Lawrence, Tracy Garner, Teneisha, Emily Purdue, Liam Dolan to Arnold Clemson and a few others... really made this some story.Towards the end of the book, you find out one of the members of MP is someone very close to Valerie, but Valerie easily forgave her. Wow! This was really something and I had better stop here and say you must pick up "circle of Silence" to find out how this all comes out! I wasn't totally surprise or shocked at who it was.This novel was a enjoyable mystery read that I would recommend that it would keep you were entertained from the beginning till the end.

[summerskris_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Carol M. Tanzman has a gift for writing contemporary stories that explore the real, gritty side of high school life in a way that keeps the reader captivated and hanging onto her every word. Honestly, I'm not fond of the synopsis. It doesn't capture the thrill and shivers and dread that I felt while reading this book. It doesn't capture the essence of the story as did the synopsis for dancergirl (WiHi #1). However, I had read dancergirl, and I remembered how much I loved that book. With high expectations, I picked up Circle of Silence, and I loved it.Although this is the second book in a series, what ties the books together is that they take place in the same high school. The character are all different, but for a couple references to Ali, which was pretty exciting. I cheered, "I KNOW THAT GIRL!!" in my head, as though I'd spotted a celebrity. In a way, I did. I'm that big of a book nerd.The story focuses on Val's perspective; however, every now and then, the mysterious leader behind the society gets a word in. Each time, I knew that something bad was going to happen. Because the leader doesn't have anything good to say. What we see is plotting--plotting on how to use the other members of the society, what new and dangerous prank to pull, and who should be eliminated. Each prank is more daring and threatening than the last, and I was hanging off the edge of a mental cliff, worrying that Val and her team wouldn't expose the truth in time to prevent something irreversible from happening. As it is, they come across many close calls.Val is a very different narrator from Ali. Both have large amounts of pressure put onto them, and both are courageous in their own ways. Ali for going after a stalker; Val for pursuing the truth of the story at all costs. The difference is that Val seems more energetic and with more drive, which comes from the reporter within her. As an aspiring journalist, she is always pushing after the truth, after the story, and her curiosity often gets her into trouble. (And having a stalker isn't very energizing. It's downright scary.) Oftentimes, it causes her to forget about what matters. However, that is at the heart of this story: learning to accept yourself and the proper way to go about doing that. I loved watching Val and her team pursue the story on the mysterious societyVal is a courage girl. It takes a lot of guts to pursue a story as dangerous as this one, especially when you know that the authorities won't do anything to help. With this second book, Tanzman has established herself as one of my favorite authors. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book that she has lying in store for us!

[booktwirps · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Valerie Gaines is determined to make her senior year count. As producer of "Campus News" she knows if she plays her cards right she and her news team can easily win the school Emmy and she will get into the top journalism school of her choice. But then her ex-boyfriend, Jaggar joins the class and her teacher assigns Jaggar to her team. So much for getting over him. Now Valerie has to deal with the boy who broke her heart while investigating a group of school pranksters whose pranks seem to be getting more and more dangerous. Despite the warnings to stop her investigation, Valerie is determined to find out who is behind this, but is getting the story worth risking her life?I missed the first installment of the WiHi series, but from what I understand, each installment deals with a different cast of characters, so I didn't feel as if I was missing any information. After reading this book, I definitely want to go back and read dancergirl. The story was well-executed, and I felt connected to a lot of the characters. The plot was well-paced and the tension grew as the story progressed. I really liked Valerie. I totally understood her motivation -- she's a journalist and her tenacity was admirable. I'm not sure I would have been as strong as her were I to find myself in a similar situation. I was thoroughly engaged in the story. I liked that it felt real. The whole secret society, and the pledge these members make to their group to keep silent really grabbed me. I could totally see this happening. There are so many kids in high school that feel as if they don't really belong, so pledging oneself to a group just to feel wanted makes sense. I also liked that the romance, while not a dominant part of the story, felt natural and not forced. While the ending and the reveal of who was behind the mysterious group didn't really surprise me, I felt the rest of the novel gelled well enough that it didn't bother me as badly as it would have had the story been weak.I definitely recommend this one. A perfect mix of mystery, intrigue, likable characters and a touch of romance makes Circle of Silence a must read for any mystery lover.

[alwaysyaatheart · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's Valerie Gaines' senior year in high school and she wants nothing more than to run the "Campus News." She has her team together and things couldn't be better, then who should walk in the door to join the class, but her ex-boyfriend Jaggar Voorham, looking as sexy as ever, just when she thought she was getting over him. To top it off, he's assigned to her news team, and the teacher asks her to show him the ropes. Valerie and her team end up investigating a series of pranks at school by someone who uses the initials MP. As they pursue the story further, the pranks begin to get more serious, even dangerous. Despite being warned to stop, Valerie and her team continue to pursue the story, and she and Jaggar end up growing closer as they do. Valerie is being fed information by a secret informant, and after she finds out about one girl being injured who tried to join the group, she gets a note saying the next candidate's initiation would be worse. The problem with that, is that the next initiate is someone going in under cover from her team. The question is, can she prevent this tragedy before it strikes and can Valarie and her team find out the identity of MP before it's too late? Circle of Silence is both thrilling and mysterious, with just the right amount of romance thrown in. I really liked Valerie, she is a very driven and focused person, and she doesn't lose her head in the middle of a crisis. I also thought the camaraderie that developed between the team members added a lot to the book. I enjoyed the whole "news theme" that the story was centered around. As far as the romance, I have to agree with Valerie, Jaggar Voorham is really hot, and though their relationship ended on a bad note, it is nice to see them try to get past it. The plot was intriguing and mysterious, the romance was really sweet, and Valarie and her friends were fun to get to know. Circle of Silence is a great contemporary YA thriller that is a little scary and very mysterious, with a little romance in the mix. If you enjoy this type of story, then Circle of Silence is probably a book you will want to check out.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Told from a new perspective this book is great! I love the feeling of the same settinjg but different characters, different plotline.Much like the first book, Val finds her herself in breaking story. A story of harmless pranks that turn harmful in a matter of mintues. I loved that Val is a true journalist. She ask questions, snoops around, sets up secret meetings. She does everything and anything she can do in order to obtain the informations that she needs. During that story, Val is facing some uincertainy in her own life. With a home life that is crazy, Val looses herself in her love life/home life. Val is a typical teenager when it comes to situations. She allows one situtaion to consume her that she forgets everything else that is going on around her. Hence, her missing some BIG clues right under her nose.The twist in the plot are awesome. Seriously, when all is revealed I couldn't help but yell,"I knew it!" I was so excited during this part, that I raced through then rest of the book. I adore how the author made sense of all the clues in the end coming together beautifully.The love interest is great. This particular love interest is different being that this couple already had history. I like that their love in restored through friendship and a re-building of trust.Circle of Silence is a great book. With a plot line that sustains the audience, it captures the reader with lots of emotions. Circle of Silence is thrilling yet scary. The striking resemblence that this can happen in real life makes the story bolder then ever!