The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson

Governor General’s Award Finalist Colleen Nelson’s tale of identity, unlikely friends, and a secret book club, now available in a new paperback format.

 Between her father’s posting overseas and her best friend Sienna’s move to the other side of the country, seventh grade is looking lonely for Jane MacDonald.

 But Sienna has left her with one last a hidden message in a library book—the perfect plot to start a secret club and find Jane a new book-loving friend. Tyson Flamand has problems of his own. 

Since the fourth grade he’s had a reputation as a bad kid, and there’s no point fighting it when teachers always think the worst. So when he finds an anonymous note in the library looking for a nerdy new friend, he knows he’s the last person in the world it could be meant for. 

But something makes him answer it anyway, and Tyson finds himself pulled into a secret book club where being hidden may be the first step to being truly seen. 

With the insight of a veteran middle-school teacher, Colleen Nelson, weaves together two stories of identity, expectation, and the courage to challenge both. As their paths move ever closer, Jane and Tyson both discover their own self-reliance and their ability to overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

Paperback, 264 pages

Published November 15, 2022

 by Pajama Press

4/5 stars

This was such a fun read, kind of makes me wish something like this happened while I was in the seventh grade.

Jane MacDonald's best friend has moved to the other side of the country and she is lonely. But Sierra has left a hidden message in a library book that sends Jane on a journey.  A journey that includes a mystery new friend and the discovery of  many books she has never read before.

I was drawn to this book not just because of it bookish theme,  bookish cover, but also Colleen Nelson is a Canadian author that I have heard many great things about.

The Undercover Book List is a story of friendship, reading,  stepping out of one comfort zone and ultimately about being honest while under peer pressure. It was a fun read that will appeal to all readers, but beware you will be adding to your TBR with the many book recommendations. The chapters are not long and told from two perspectives really rounded out this story nicely.

This book was part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge and is #15