Amanda Pepper is back! This time she is on the case for a different kind of mystery. Pitted against the Moral Ecologists, a group hellbent on censorship, Amanda must stop them from ruining her ability to teach English. The plot thickens early on when Reverend Harvey Spiers, leader of the Moral Ecologists, shows up at a fundraiser hosted by Edward and Theodora Roederer. The Roederers are wealthy staunch supporters of free speech and annually give a ton of money to the community, including Amanda's prep school. First red flag? Spier's son and Roederer's son are close friends. Second? Jake and Griffin are in Amanda's class. Both are angsty teens with family issues that go beyond morality and wealth. Of course, the protesting gets out of hand and someone winds up dead. But it wouldn't be an Amanda Pepper mystery if Amanda didn't find herself in a wee bit of danger herself.
The ongoing joke is that Amanda does not know Mackenzie's full name so whenever she goes to introduce him to someone new she stumbles. Why she can't call him "C.K." is beyond me.
As an aside, the details are a little dated. This was written in an age when photoshopping the Mona Lisa with a scowl was good fun. Technology has come a long way since the days of putting grins on dogs. ( )

How do I pick my favorite Amanda Pepper novel from the series? Each one is a treat but this one may become my all-time favorite. Chapter 3 begins with the pronouncement from Amanda - "Monday morning is never the emotional highlight of my week..." It certainly captures my thoughts of every Monday morning as the alarm goes off. Monday's alarm just seems to 'ring' louder and longer.

I love the humor that Gillian Roberts brings to her novels. I love all the "Philly-isms" and the schoolteacher thoughts and actions for her character Amanda Pepper that are a natural part of Gillian Roberts' writing and since she experienced it all first hand -living and teaching in Philadelphia - it's not contrived in any way but is shared just as it is. Awesome! Her books are a wonderful discovery!! ( )

Takes place in Philadelphia. Amanda is a teacher at a prep school, there's ecology protestors, wealthy donors, difficult students and a murder. ( )

Philly Prep, the private high school where Amanda Pepper teaches, has received a grant for its media center (library) from Edward Franklin 'Neddy' Roederer and his wife, Theodora 'Tea' Roederer. The wealthy couple are known for their philanthropy.

Unfortunately, the Moral Ecologists, one of those self-righteous groups bent on censoring the rest of us, claim that at least some of the donated books pollute young minds. They're picketing Philly Prep. Principal Havermeyer is getting more and more nervous as the school's open house day comes closer. His solution leads to more problems that the twit didn't didn't have the sense to expect.

Complicating matters are the fact that two of the students who work on the school newspaper are the stepson of the hellfire-and-brimstone reverend who has practically taken over the Moral Ecologists and the stepson's best friend -- the foster son of the Roederers.

The stepson's biological father lives in another country and his mother is one of those unbearable, self-centered drama queens. Amanda longs to help the boy, but how can she?

There's a murder, a party that got out of control, and secrets. One of those secrets involves someone close to Amanda. It explains a lot.

Before the mysteries are solved, Amanda will find herself in a death trap.

I loved the Mark Twain quote on censorship that Amanda writes on her chalkboard in chapter three. The discussion of Jane Eyre is interesting, although I think Amanda forgot the information about Bertha -- granted it came from Mr. Rochester -- when she was thinking about him and Bertha.

As usual, there are plenty of good and funny bits. Enjoy. ( )

Not liking it but bought & paid for so I'm trying to read it. One good line: "Luxury was standing up by the time I arrived."

On page 130 Amanda asks herself "Has anyone since Oscar Wilde gone to prison for sexual preference?" She probably should have asked someone else since anyone stupid enough to ask that question is too stupid to answer it.

Amanda still hasn't got a clue about the "C.K." in C.K. MacKenzie. She didn't get the hint.