Reviewed by e_rodz_leb on
Zoe’s parents divorced and thus Zoe just moved to the town of River Heights and is starting a new school. Her father is pushing her to attend a snotty school back in NYC and she’s used to going along with what he wants. She meets Dibgy when he knocks on her door to ask some questions and she’s very weary of him. They meet again later during detention when Digby has the brilliant idea to partner with her for a school independent study project. This is the start of an adventure and unlikely friendship.
I like that Zoe is quirky and snarky, and gave as good as she took. Her survival instincts are spot-on and she has a healthy respect for rules and authority. I think she balanced Digby’s craziness very well. She’s trying to find her own voice and her place in the new dynamics of her family. She's also trying to find a place in school and she was really lonely before meeting Digby.
"Digby!"
Digby and I both jumped when Henry emerged from behind some bushes, sweaty and panting.
"Oh, heeey... Henry, I didn't know you were coming." Digby said.
"Of course you did - that's why you tried to run me over on Chesnut."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that was you," Digvy said.
"I could hear you laughing in your car, bro."
Digby is a very complex character. He’s full of insight about others, he’s almost always right and always has a plan to get to what he needs. He's unpredictable, spontaneous, a lot crazy, hungry, lonely, and extremely smart (like scary smart!) At the end we realized that Digby’s life is so sad. Not only he was obsessed with finding out what happened to his sister, but his parents fell apart when that happened and were never able to overcome it. In the process they neglected the child they had left. I do hope that Digby uses his gift for good instead of evil!
There is a wonderful host of characters that join Zoe and Digby. Henry is a Greek-god-like-popular-quarterback who was Digby’s childhood friend and now turns partner-in-crime and joins Zoe and Digby’s adventures. Sloane is Zoe’s nemesis and stereotypical spoiled, mean, head cheerleader, Felix is a 13 year genius that has skipped several grades and has a crush on Zoe. Even though these characters sound very typical for every other high school book, here they had some hidden depths to them all. I liked that even though Zoe’s parents had a lot of problems and issues – with each other and within themselves – they tried to do what’s best for Zoe and they were there.
"Then we'll go in and buy the stuff. While we're there I'll just ask about the banana sticker."
"Just ask?" I said,
"It'll come up," Digby said.
"It'll come up? How exactly?"
"I don't know exactly, I'll bring it up. Casually," Digby said.
"Casually bring it up? That's the plan? That's not a good plan. Thanks' not even really a plan," I said. "That's like a day-dream of how you want this to go."
"She's right. That's not a good plan." Henry said.
"See, that's the problem with democracy. Everyone thinks they have a better way to do everything," Digby said.
I did not expected that ending and I need more! I need more answers and I need to know what happened after Digby got on the bus! Guys, this book is SO funny, the writing is fluid, and gripping, I couldn't put it down. The banter and dialogue between the characters is priceless. The plot, as you can imagine, is a mystery and our host of characters get in a lot of trouble trying to figure out who'd done it. I really didn't see all of twists and turns coming.
Overall, Trouble is a Friend of Mine is a fun, cute, funny, and insightful book with an unexpected depth that I hope is the first in a series and that we get to meet Zoe and Digby again soon.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 22 July, 2015: Finished reading
- 22 July, 2015: Reviewed