The smashed Window 

Trust, friendships and emotions of the heart are just a part of the conflicting issues that preteens face. Brooke Lynn faces some difficult realities as her best friend Susie and her BFF Mike face boy /girl problems, betrayals and at times Brooke is caught in the middle.Mike is in trouble for supposedly causing the window in Mr.Wilken’shouse to be smashed. In reality it’s more like guilt by association. There had been a great deal of vandalism and graffiti and Brooke has been asked to get volunteers to help clean up the trails. But that is not an easy task as she is also dealing with the chili cook off and conflicting attitudes and issues involving her new hiking partner Todd who her best friend Susie wants as her boyfriend. Things escalate and words are spoken as Brooke tries to explain her relationship with Todd who is new to the community. However, at the time the window was smashed he was with another new teen,Luke who for some reason Brooke thought might be guilty. This gets more complicated as Brooke and Mike see things through different eyes and at times their friendship seems in danger. Brooke just wants everyone to get along but she will soon learn the true meaning of jealousy, distrust and betrayal. Susie wants Todd and yet we get the feeling that although he’s trying to fit into the crowd they are missing something. Luke seems to be the object of their investigation as the 2-K – team of Brooke Lynn and Mike are asked to take on the case of the smashed window. They even pay for the broken one and fix it for Mr. Wilkens on the morning of Santa Mesa cleanup day. Added in as an incentive, free pizza and the student with the most hours gets a free pie. Sounds great! Competitions are fun and the one between Mike’s mother and Brooke’s father decides whose chili recipe is the best creates some serious fun, honest opinions but that’s just a backstory what someone does to the fresh sod that is torn up by the clubhouse. As Brooke relates that her mom had heard gossip that the vandalism started about the time the new builder came to town. Thinking it’s a reason why Mr.Smythe wants to warm up done if the locals by sponsoring the it’s fest this year. Why would a handful of people be turned off by the construction project and the new homes?It’s becoming obvious that someone has it in for the new neighborhood but why? The 2-k team needs to take a closer look at someone to determine if this person is doing the vandalism. What about the if the donuts were made by the truck speeding through their neighborhood? Was Brooke brave telling the site manager? What was in the the plastic bag someone was carrying home? Brooke wondered about this and even more about her brother Arnie and his mysterious girlfriend Belinda. Then Susie betrays Brooke’s trust and Brooke never tells her about hiking with Todd and then she and Mike fix the window and the cleanup begins and ends. Did anything odd happen? A secret hike with Todd, different attitude and Brooke is alarmed by his change of personality. She falls and he does not help her up.In addition she tries to learn more about where he came from and she wanted answers to questions that might solve the case. What happens next brings the spotlight on Todd as if he is guilty of the vandalism. Plus Susie is furious that Brooke is even hiking with him and friendships will deteriorate and might never be the same.Was Todd causing trouble and why was Susie so defensive? Would he cause trouble in the town where his uncle was growing his business? She even gave Todd too much information and about the window and the investigation which Brooke told her in confidence. Things get more tense when Brooke meets Sam and you get the feeling that there is more going on. Are kids being bullied? Overheard conversations, Rachel and Brooke talk about Sam and then something Todd mentioned. Susie seems angry and accuses Brooke about Todd. Friendships fall apart and preteens have to learn how to deal with boy/ girl ,relationships and disappointment. 
Things get tense when Todd spills how he feels about Brooke and Mike sticking their noses into his business and friendship with Luke. There is an attack at the trailer park and how will the 2-k team handle another stakeout? Chili cook off turns out interesting and surprising plus the winning recipe you won’t believe who wins. Sheriff f Blume learns some interesting information and then a revelation about Belinda. What is revealed shocks Brooke and an image is not what it really seems. 
Truths, lies, deceptions and not everyone is who or what they seem and author Toby A Williams throws an unexpected twist, revelation and surprise ending that will change opinions, cause more doubt and friendships might be more than frayed as the real vandal is revealed, why and does this person show remorse and who else was involved and why? Peer pressure can make some teens or even younger fall prey to bullies or just wanting to be accepted. The ending will make you wonder if Brooke and Susie will ever be besties again. Trust does not come without a price in the end . Friends forever or not? Sometimes friendships are as fragile as windows that are delicate and smashed. Once again Brooke and Mike take the spotlight but at times it gets dim and they both have a hard time letting the sun shine in. Preteen an awkward and hard age . Fran Lewis just reviews