The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie

Moriarity, Jaclyn. 2006. THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0439740517 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

REVIEW
Bindy MacKenzie is absolutely perfect—at least in her own mind. After all, she has a 99.99 average in all her classes, she memorizes class outlines to help her teachers, she has lunchtime advisory sessions for her fellow students, she keeps transcripts of all that happens around her, and she has been casual employee of the month at Kmart for the last seventeen months straight. Sure, lots of people hate her but who would want to kill her? It all begins when she must take a part in a new class offered at her school, the Friendship and Development Project (FAD), formed to “ provide a life raft through the tricky seas of adolescence.” Bindy does not need a life raft, thank you. She’s doing just fine on her own—at least until the class begins and she develops an obsession wit the word “Cincinnati,” fails her first test ever, and discovers that she just does not care anymore. With the help of her FAD group, Bindy not only saves her life but discovers there is something more to life than being perfect. While rather lengthy, this is a fun read that crosses the ocean from Australia well.

CONNECTIONS
This would be a great read for those obsessed with being “perfect” whether scholastically, academically, or physically and would also work well for a high school book club for discussion.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books dealing with relationships that also have a bit of mystery and humor:
Green, John. AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. ISBN 0525476881
Lyga, Barry. THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL. ISBN 0618723927
Moriarity, Jaclyn. THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS. ISBN 0439498821


By Janet Hilbun