All that Glitters

The Zee Files #2

by Tina Wells

See where London takes Zee next in Book 2 of The Zee Files, the spin-off series to the bestselling Mackenzie Blue books!

The Creative Arts Festival is almost here—and Zee still hasn’t figured out her performance.

Everyone is talking about the school’s biggest event of the year, where students can showcase their talents. But while Zee’s excited to see her friends and schoolmates perform, she’s not sure she’ll ever be ready for the stage. She’s never performed in front of so many people before, or without her bandmates—or in England, no less!

Now the Festival is slowly approaching, classes are getting harder, and things with her friends and family are becoming complicated. Will Zee be able to pull it all together in time?

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, School, Music, Friendship, Childrens, Young Adult

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2022

About the author

Tina Wells is the author of the best-selling tween fiction series Mackenzie Blue, and its spinoff series, The Zee Files. Tina lives on the East Coast but likes to travel and share her passion to encourage and uplift young people.

Reviews

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Zee Files: All That Glitters’ by Tina Wells is a nice, easygoing follow-up to the first book in the series. Zee is still unsure of her standing at her new school, as well as with one of her oldest friends, Jasper, and the boy she likes, Archie. As the book progresses, she finds that she has some newfound confidence that is allowing her to stand up for herself. This might be the result of her father arranging trips to a therapist for her, all as a means of helping her to acclimate more easily to her new school and social life.

Zee is getting ready for the biggest talent show of the year, the Creative Arts Festival, and she intends to perform a song. When her roommate and other friends make her feel on the outskirts of their circle, she grows a bit weary of trying to fit in, and in doing so, she realizes that telling them how she feels brings about a newfound respect for her that they may not have had before.

Visiting one of her best friends in Paris and chatting with the other one on video calls from California isn’t easy, but it brings her a semblance of normalcy that she worried she’d lose when she moved overseas to England.

All Zee wants is to find a place for herself, to fit in, and to do well in her performance at the Creative Arts Festival. Her life as a ninth grader hangs in the balance. Tina Wells does a nice job showing Zee’s character, and how she relates to others. The illustrations add depth to the story and characters. This is a fun, entertaining sequel in Zee’s high school life.

Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zee is trying to find her footing at her new school in London, but the pressures of living away from home at a boarding school with strangers is starting to take its toll. She feels jealous as she spends less and less time with Jasper, and he seems enamored with YouTube sensation, Izzy. At the same time, Zee finds herself spending more and more time with the elusive Archie Saint John. Zee enjoys her visit with Ally in Paris, but when it is over, she worries when she doesn't hear from Ally as much as she hoped. She's not sure how she is going to survive the upcoming school Festival performance.

All that Glitters continues the story of Zee and her friends. With more conflict than the first book, this one is more interesting and enjoyable. The idea of therapy being a way to deal with problems is presented in a way that makes it seem like a realistic option for young people. One problem with the story is that it jumps perspectives from one character to another making it a bit confusing. Overall, however, All That Glitters is an entertaining book that tells the story of a young woman who is figuring out her new life. 4 1/2 stars.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series continues to follow Mackenzie (Zee) Blue Carmichael through her life in her new school, The Hollows. She has been so stressed with her academics, new country, new home, new school, new friends, and the upcoming festival performance that her teacher reached out to her father and Zee has started seeing a counselor at school. She doesn’t want her mother or friends to know (except for the friends she shares the Zee files with). She is told by a couple people that the piece she’s working on for the festival doesn’t feel right. She’s still juggling a lot of things, but things come to a head with her roommate and they begin to get along better as a result. She is more able to confide in her closest friends in this book, and has a few successes towards the end. It certainly ends on a pleasant note and my kids can’t wait for the next book to come out. Scattered illustrations throughout the book are well designed and carried out, I especially enjoy how emotive they are.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Zee files series. I read the first book and won this finished copy of All That Glitters. I am still dealing with the fact that the main character, Zee comes from a prividged background. I keep wondering how children around at her young teen can relate to her.

Zee is making a lot of friends and has a healthy social life. The problem is that she has started to get poorer grades in algebra and has trouble with focusing on a subject that she is not interested in, Her father received reports about her and wants to help her. His idea is to have her to see a therapist. This where I think the book is unrealistic. The fact is that high school have counselors and due to budget cuts that person may be working part-time. The counseling sessiions will be fewer and shorter. Her roomate teaches zee how to mediate which helps calm her down.

Her friends give her support and she starts to make steps to adjusting to living in a different country and boarding school.

[Shelly Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that Glitters is about Zee and her first year in a boarding school in London. Her family has just moved from California to London and she is feeling a bit overwhelmed. The story centers around her group of old friends that she stays in touch with, but also the new friends that she meets. The school is getting ready for an end of the year music festival and Zee is signed up to do a solo.

In the middle of the year as her grades are slipping, her father comes to see her and she admits she is having a hard time adjusting to everything new. He sets her up with a therapist and Zee begins to trust her therapist and the meetings really start helping Zee in her studies and music.

The book ends with a great feel-good ending and I believe this will be a hit for YA readers. It has a bright and colorful cover! I have a Little free Library and I look forward to see this book fly off of the shelves!

I won this book from Librarythings Early Reviewers and I would highly recommend it!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mackenzie (Zee) Blue Carmichael, a transplant from California living in London, reconnects with best friends Ally and Chloe. Ally is living in Paris with her father and Chloe is still back at home in California. Londoner Jasper is another good friend who is passionate about music just like Zee.

Complications arise with filthy rich, incredibly handsome, Archie Saint John likes Zee and suggests they become more. Like girlfriend/boyfriend more. Where does this leave her other friends and how will she ever keep up with her insanely stressful schoolwork and music performance skills?

All That Glitters is the second installment of The Zee Files with more to come (I hope!). A romance offering for the tween set.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, West Margin Press, and Tina Wells for this ARC.

[Karen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that glitters the second book in The Zee Files is about Mackenzie Carmichael (Zee). I am just coming into the series so I am not sure if each series highlights one of the three girls in the Zee file group. Zee has just moved to London from California and is struggling with the higher level of learning. Her friend Ally has moved to France and is struggling with her home life and Chloe is still in California.
Zee has a crush on Archie, the boy on campus of The Hollows Academy and Jasper a friend from California is the only person from home Zee knows from home. The school is holding a festival and Zee plans to sing a song that she is finding out isn’t one of her best. With school, boys and now the festival she needs help clearing her head.
A wonderful story about change, moving on, and just a fun story for any young person to read.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This realistic story will interest many middle grade readers. Zee is attending a British boarding school, attempting to fit in and make friends, all while studying and trying to prepare a song for the school’s Creative Arts Festival. Readers will relate to Zee’s changing friendships, crushes/new relationships, and daily struggles. I love how the author normalizes therapy and shows the positive impact it can have. There are some minor verb tenses that disagree and don’t seem to flow with the story, which throw things off a little. A good book that fell a little flat for me, but I’m also not the target audience. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but readers will be able to easily pick up and follow Zee’s adventures.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Scooby2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read about Zee finding herself overwhelmed with school, friends, being away from home at boarding school and having her grades start to drop. She is able to find ways to help herself that I feel tweens will find helpful. And I loved that it showed that tweens experience problems like these and may need to find solutions that are helpful for them. I didn’t read book one but was able to read this one with no problem. I think young readers might find this series interesting to read.

I give this book 3 stars.

I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing’s Early Review program in exchange for an honest review.

[Casarah Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl, it is her first year at a boarding school full of talented artists and she is feeling the pressure of performance. She is trying to keep it all together and still be herself. This book is good for telling girls that's its okay to go to therapy and ask for help, and it's okay when things change, and it's okay to be nervous.

There is a lot of positives in this book. I would be pleased if my daughter read this. But, to me, there was lack of energy that keeps a reader wanting more.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book for a younger crowd. The main characters are concerned with adolescent teen items like parent's divorce, moving to a new school, and making friends. They even bring up the fact that kids that age might need some help dealing with those issues.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zee and her family have moved to London. Zee is in boarding school. The school's Creative Arts Festival is approaching and Zee is not ready! She is feeling unsure about her music and is struggling in school classes as well.

[Anita White · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

Now this series is good and just got better. First Zee finally had a nervous breakdown and finally got some help to cope because a new country and going to boarding school will do it. But now this boyfriend it’s getting juicy now can’t wait for 3.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being a young adult book it was a pretty good read. A lot of what Zee is dealing with most teenagers could relate too as well. I did not read book 1 but I was able to figure out what was occurring in this book without any issues. Overall, it seems like this would be a decent book series.

[Dakota_coffee&books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one, but I still loved it. I was sort of mad at Zee at points, but it was still really good.

[Bella]

Best book ever! Tina Wells surely is one of the best authors in the world. I recommend this book to everyone!

[ari xx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written and I loved the word choice! Zee is a cute character, and I really want to finish the series! Definitely recommend!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

BCFL checkout.

[Zoe West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book where Zee needs to find a talent to perform in the show. It had drama and excitement to it. I rate this book a 4 out of 5.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story, well written and with a great message that it’s okay to ask for help, go to therapy, etc!
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.