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Hidden Diary #1
Cross My Heart
Lucy doesn't want to spend the coming months on Catalina Island, but when she stumbles across an old diary, things look up. Ages 11-14.
109 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Byrd
75 books1,013 followersThe author of more than fifty books, Sandra’s work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including a starred review-PW Pick from Publishers Weekly and multiple starred reviews and Best Book selections from Library Journal. Other awards include the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice, two Christy Awards nominations, a BookPage Top Pick for Romance, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list.
A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and service ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family.
Reach Sandra Here: https://linktr.ee/sandrabyrd
A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and service ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family.
Reach Sandra Here: https://linktr.ee/sandrabyrd
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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May 20, 2017It was cute and kind and gave a great example of a perfect friend relationship. Also the parents aren't perfect, but they are what they need to be.
March 5, 2018
This book, overall, was good. I got it from a friend in a book swap, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm usually not the biggest fan of mysteries. This book surprised me! I actually enjoyed it!
June 17, 2020
I loved it!!! I read the next one and now I am waiting for the 3rd one to come.
I would love to find a old diary and have that adventure.
I would love to find a old diary and have that adventure.
May 5, 2023
Cute. Love the gentle faith content.
September 8, 2024
Pretty cool story
June 30, 2018
About this book:
“For once Lucy Larson is looking forward to her summer—what could be better than spending twelve weeks on exotic Catalina Island and sharing the adventure with her cousin? When her cousin’s visit is canceled, though, Lucy faces another long summer of tagging along on her scientist dad’s boring research outings.
Lucy’s about to pack up and go home. But when she stumbles upon a letter dated 1932, things begin to look up. The writers of the letter mention a hidden diary and gives clues how find it. Lucy drives headfirst into the mystery and sets out to find the diary. It may turn out to be an exciting summer after all!”
Series: Book #1 of the “The Hidden Diary” series. {There are 8 books in this series.}
Spiritual Content- “Oh yeah, Lucy thought. I forgot they pray now. She wasn’t used to that. It was nice in a different sort of way.”; Lucy’s afraid that “all this religious stuff” will go away & her parents won’t get along again; Lucy’s parents have a Bible study by themselves; Blessings over food & Prayers; Claudette (age 7) witnesses to Lucy (which is really sweet & cute!); Many Talks about God and being a Christian; Serena is a Christian; Bibles & going into a Christian book store; Deuteronomy 31:8 is on the back of the book (Just the reference, it’s not written out.)
Negative Content- It’s hinted (then mentioned) that Lucy’s parents argued & separated a few years before the book started; Lucy’s afraid that it’ll happen again; A girl is rude to Lucy.
Sexual Content- *The girls on the cover are wearing shorts. A teenager smiles at Lucy and Serena says he likes her; Claudette later asks Lucy if he’s her boyfriend (Lucy is mortified and tells her no)
-Lucy Larson, almost 12.
P.O.V. of Lucy
109 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{ Lowered ratings for mentions of Lucy’s parents arguing & separated a few years prior. }
A cute story with a light mystery and a lesson of keeping your promises. I really liked what happened on page 100:
“When she opened her eyes, they were drawn downward, but they still stared into the mirror. Halfway down Lucy’s reflection, just across her chest, was the cross Claudette had stuck onto the mirror on Tuesday.
She traced the cross on her own chest; it landed right across her heart. Instead of making an X across her heart as she normally did when she made a promise, she traced the cross. A cross across my heart. She traced the cross against her chest again. Cross my heart. God promised to never leave her. He’d stick by her no matter what.
“Cross my heart,” she whispered. “For when I’m scared.”
I’ve never been a fan on the saying “Cross my heart” and doing an X across your chest. So, I thought this was a neat take and explanation of the title name.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“For once Lucy Larson is looking forward to her summer—what could be better than spending twelve weeks on exotic Catalina Island and sharing the adventure with her cousin? When her cousin’s visit is canceled, though, Lucy faces another long summer of tagging along on her scientist dad’s boring research outings.
Lucy’s about to pack up and go home. But when she stumbles upon a letter dated 1932, things begin to look up. The writers of the letter mention a hidden diary and gives clues how find it. Lucy drives headfirst into the mystery and sets out to find the diary. It may turn out to be an exciting summer after all!”
Series: Book #1 of the “The Hidden Diary” series. {There are 8 books in this series.}
Spiritual Content- “Oh yeah, Lucy thought. I forgot they pray now. She wasn’t used to that. It was nice in a different sort of way.”; Lucy’s afraid that “all this religious stuff” will go away & her parents won’t get along again; Lucy’s parents have a Bible study by themselves; Blessings over food & Prayers; Claudette (age 7) witnesses to Lucy (which is really sweet & cute!); Many Talks about God and being a Christian; Serena is a Christian; Bibles & going into a Christian book store; Deuteronomy 31:8 is on the back of the book (Just the reference, it’s not written out.)
Negative Content- It’s hinted (then mentioned) that Lucy’s parents argued & separated a few years before the book started; Lucy’s afraid that it’ll happen again; A girl is rude to Lucy.
Sexual Content- *The girls on the cover are wearing shorts. A teenager smiles at Lucy and Serena says he likes her; Claudette later asks Lucy if he’s her boyfriend (Lucy is mortified and tells her no)
-Lucy Larson, almost 12.
P.O.V. of Lucy
109 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{ Lowered ratings for mentions of Lucy’s parents arguing & separated a few years prior. }
A cute story with a light mystery and a lesson of keeping your promises. I really liked what happened on page 100:
“When she opened her eyes, they were drawn downward, but they still stared into the mirror. Halfway down Lucy’s reflection, just across her chest, was the cross Claudette had stuck onto the mirror on Tuesday.
She traced the cross on her own chest; it landed right across her heart. Instead of making an X across her heart as she normally did when she made a promise, she traced the cross. A cross across my heart. She traced the cross against her chest again. Cross my heart. God promised to never leave her. He’d stick by her no matter what.
“Cross my heart,” she whispered. “For when I’m scared.”
I’ve never been a fan on the saying “Cross my heart” and doing an X across your chest. So, I thought this was a neat take and explanation of the title name.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
August 1, 2008
I accutually rate this book 41/2. This book is a great summer book, but it is 110 pages long and fits the whole beginning plot. It dosen't have enough introduction, but it has a way to fast plot. One morning she'll find this, the evening she'll find this and the next morning she'll talk to this person,ext.... The author tried to slow things up, but It didn't work. The main story was good, so I plan on reading the rest of the series.
July 17, 2011
I remember loving this book so much! The story was really good! The idea of two girls becoming best friends and going on an adventure looking for the clues to a hidden treasure hidden many years earlier, I found to be very exciting. I loved how the book took place on Catalina during the summer. Catalina is one of the most beautiful places.
April 14, 2014
A quick, fun read meant for tweens more than for people my age, but still good. The plot paced itself nicely, I thought, but they did stumble upon the diary pretty quickly. But I guess that helped some other situations come to the surface.
Overall, it was a nice little change, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series...if I can get a hold of every book past number two.
Overall, it was a nice little change, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series...if I can get a hold of every book past number two.
December 10, 2009
I love the premise of a hidden diary, two girls find a diary that two girls their age wrote years ago. It was also fun to think about living in a new town for the summer and reading the diary over the entire summer with your new friend.
August 1, 2008
It was really good!!!
December 19, 2010
This should be a good book for the 5th Grade Girlz bookclub.
Read
May 28, 2013Read these when I was probably 9--they had little of substance but were entertaining, which was basically all I wanted at that age anyhow.
October 2, 2014
Good read
Want to read
March 16, 2014is good book
February 12, 2016
Loved this book when I read it as a kid.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews