the jade notebook
In the gripping conclusion of the Notebooks series, Zeeta, Layla, and Wendell have settled in the beachside town of Mazunte, Mexico, where rare sea turtles nest. Zeeta is determined to make this piece of paradise her home, but as she digs deeper to unearth her elusive father's past, she finds that paradise has its dark side. Third in the Notebooks trilogy.
Ages 11 & up, Delacorte/Random House, 2012, available as hardcover and ebook.
praise
"A great blend of suspenseful mystery and romance, The Jade Notebook is the perfect addition to collections that already feature the previous titles or are waiting for a worthy addition. Fans of the previous titles will enjoy revisiting Zeeta on this leg of her journey, while new readers can get swept up in this story on its own." --VOYA
"Readers are immersed in the details of a lovingly described coastal town in Mexico and an action-filled mystery surrounding the poaching of ancient sea turtles that make their home there... overall a graceful conclusion to Zeeta’s story." --Kirkus
"In eloquent, full-bodied prose, this companion to The Indigo Notebook (2009) and The Ruby Notebook (2010, both Delacorte) tackles familial and romantic relationships, corruption, and ecological issues with veracity and complexity. Secondary characters are well formed and intrinsic to the plot development. The lush descriptions, intermittent action sequences, and sprinkling of fantasy all come together to form an engaging reading experience that will delight teens looking for a more mature story." --School Library Journal
Researching in Mazunte...
inspiration
The setting of this book is my favorite beach town - a small community on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico - a gorgeous, off-the-beaten-track place where rare sea turtles nest. I used to vacation here when I lived in the mountains of Oaxaca.
Here and here you can see photos and read more about my trip to Mazunte to research the book.
