RITES OF SPRING (BREAK)
An Ivy League Novel
Diana Peterfreund
Delta Fiction
ISBN: 0-385-34193-6
July 2008
Chick Lit

Diana Peterfreund adds another installment to her Ivy League series with RITES OF SPRING (BREAK). Readers beware: this reviewer highly recommends reading the previous books in the Ivy League series before jumping into RITES OF SPRING (BREAK). Amy Haskel is one of the lucky few; she is a member of the Rose and Grave, a secret society made up of the best-of-the-best of her own college campus and part of a large secret society made up of the best-of-the-best across the nation. Maintaining secrecy is absolutely necessary to Diggers, and they are determined to continue to build a reputation for mystery. As Spring Break looms ahead, Amy finds herself in the difficult position of possibly being "outed" by rival organization, the potential healing of a painful breakup, and the frustrating decisions about her future after graduation. Of course she needs a vacation! Joining her fellow diggers on a private island should provide lots of opportunities for fun in the sun, but a series of dangerous incidents occur. It appears someone is determined to harm as many diggers as possible, and it's up to Amy to find the culprit before he or she can strike again.

Told in a light-hearted, whimsical tone, RITES OF SPRING (BREAK) is a quick summer read. Mischief, young love, and loyalty are all major themes in the novel, and readers will like Amy, despite her character flaws. Readers are offered an inside look into the mind of an apparently bright and successful young woman who is much more than she believes herself to be; additionally, the glimpses of Ivy League life and comparisons to "regular" living are present throughout the novel. RITES OF SPRING (BREAK) is entertaining, and I enjoyed it a lot!

Reviewed by Angela Etheridge
Rating: 4