Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles

Reader reviewed by K. Hager

This is a great book from the "Mates, Dates" series that deals with Nesta getting braces and meeting a new boy. The only thing is her dad doesn't care for her new friend and she has to uncover why.

The funniest part of the book is when Nesta mistakenly thinks Luca might be her brother and instead of handling it calmly (although she had kissed him) she freaks out, yells out that he's her brother and runs out the door! It's not too much of a spoiler to reveal he's not her brother, but the true story of why her father dislikes Luca's family is tragic.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes the Mates, Dates series. This one takes a different turn w/the family secrets and it is not to be missed!

Reader reviewed by Kate

This series is about four best friends. A very shy Lucy, Izzie who's really into music and is in a band, a bit of brainboxish T.J and Nesta who is half Jamican, half Italian and totally gorgeos.
In this book Nesta has to get braces. She loses her confidence and thinks no boy will ever like a "can opener". When Nesta has decided that while she is gonna be staying home for the next year she should at least work on her acting, and takes an acting class with Izzie. By Murpheys Law, when Nesta thought the acting classes were great and no one to be embaressed of was there, this totally gorgeous boy, Luke turns up. Luke helps Nesta regain her confidence but the book is mostly about something that happened in the past with Nestas and Lukes fathers.
I think this book is great, lots of my friends read it and they loved it. I'd probably recomend this book for grade 7's and up.

Reader reviewed by Dylana

Though these books are short and fast reads, they are always fun. In this one, Nesta has to get braces, and she starts to feel very insecure about her looks. But she does want to prove to her friends that she's not superficial and only cares about looks. And this does happen when she meets Luke, a boy in her acting class. Luke doesn't mind her braces and likes her for who she is, or who he thinks she is. Nesta tries to become a movie guru to seem interesting to Luke, but finds its better to be true to herself and others. Luke builds her confidence. But Nesta's dad soesn't want her hanging out with him at all, and he won't explain. What's up? Nesta goes on a quest to find out why her father's so unhappy and she finds some amazing results, as well as a whole bunch of new friends!