Book Review: December by Gabrielle Lord

December
by Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-935279-61-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-935279-61-7
Publication Date: December, 2010
List Price: $10.99

Review: The final month has arrived, and Cal has merely days now to uncover the Ormond Singularity. He desperately needs to find a way to Ireland so that he can somehow get closer to the mystery, but how can a wanted fugitive ever get out of the country? Well, Cal finds a way in December, the last book in the Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord.

Cal, Winter, and Boges, through a stroke of luck and genius, fly to Ireland in hopes that by being there, they will be able to gather the remaining clues they need to uncover a treasure that is believed to be the treasure beyond all treasures. Along the way, they are unable to escape the people who all along have threatened their very existence. Plus, new enemies arise who pose an even bigger threat. As the body count is growing, is it possible that Cal can avoid being one of them? Cal finds himself in even more harrowing spots this month, and very oftentimes it seems like each day will be his last. But, Cal and his friends are determined - they just have no clue who they can trust anymore, and people who they believe to be allies, keep winding up dead! It's a race to the finish, but will Cal finish it alive?

Gabrielle Lord does not disappoint in her final installment in the Conspiracy 365 series. Decemberis a tad longer than other books in the series, but every page is filled with one hair-raising event after another. Readers will find their stomach in knots as they plow through page after page of exciting plot. The book ends with a 1 ½ page epilogue. Here is where Lord could have done more. Readers have been reading about Cal and his friends and family for an entire year. They've become entranced by Cal's journeys and he has nearly become "real" in their lives. A longer epilogue would have been much appreciated as dedicated readers hate to see the year come to a close. Nevertheless, the Conspiracy 365 series will always be the first series recommended to school libraries and middle school readers everywhere. In a world filled with technology where kids can become absorbed so easily in Wii or Xbox, it's comforting to know that there are writers out there who can break the mold and write a book, or even a series, that will have kids putting away the games, shutting off the computers, and absorbing themselves in a book!

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of December for this review.

Have you read December? How would you rate it?