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Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship Portia offers a needed breath of fresh air in 'tween lit. Once again Portia is on the case. There's a new girl at the middle school. Her name is Misty, and she's determined to make Portia her new best friend, in addition to getting Portia's help with a serious problem. Portia is excited to have a new detective case and dives right in helping her new friend. The case involves a rabbit named Maxwell. He's one of the stray animals Misty has an uncanny knack for finding and bringing home. Although her mother doesn't approve, she can't seem to avoid running into animals with problems. Along with Maxwell the depressed bunny, she is dealing with a three-legged grasshopper that escapes in Portia's mother's restaurant, The Tent. Needless to say, Misty is keeping Portia busy. In other plot action, Portia is still searching for her absent father, Patch. She is hoping for new developments in that case and gets one from an unlikely source, Vera, owner of Trash and Treasures. There is also a possible romantic interest in Portia's life. Webster the math genius seems to be trying to get Portia's attention with what he says is an important question. Indigo's restaurant is once again a backdrop for much of the action. This time the menu item of interest is the pomegranate, and Portia finds herself sampling all sorts of crazy concoctions her mother creates. PORTIA'S EXCLUSIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL RULES ON TRUE FRIENDSHIP is a fun read with whimsical characters, a bit of mystery, and insightful comments regarding the meaning of friendship. Portia offers a needed breath of fresh air in 'tween lit. She doesn't worry about make-up, hair styles, and fashion magazines. Instead, she focuses on family and friends and helping make the world a better place. - Sally Kruger (aka "Readingjunky"), TeensReadToo.com
Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life is... just right for the mature young reader who appreciates a unique reading experience. You’d think a major earthquake would be the most unsettling event in twelve-year-old Portia’s life, but you’d be wrong. The quake and its aftershocks don’t even begin to compare to the stomach-churning, life-changing discovery that Portia makes while cleaning up the fragments of a natural disaster. Jogged loose from its hiding place is a picture of Patch, Portia’s mysterious father. “The picture is blurry, but from what I can make out,” Portia tells us, “it’s a tall man wearing a dark raincoat with an old-time hat tilted over his forehead. It looks like a hat that an actor from a black and white movie might wear….” Portia’s mom, Indigo, has promised to tell Portia all about Patch but not until her 16th birthday – still years away! Portia has always believed that her father is a super-secret secret agent of some sort, whose dangerous work is the only thing that keeps him from coming home to her. She dreams that he sends her loving postcards from the exotic places he visits during his missions. The photograph, though, is the first real evidence – the first physical connection—she has to her father, and its discovery launches Portia on a new career as a detective. Just like in real life, there are obstacles in the path: earthquake clean-up chores, for instance. With power going on and off, it’s nearly impossible for Portia to stay in touch with her best friend, Amy. Her traumatized cat refuses to come out from under the bed, and her mom is flirting with a firefighter named Rock. But Portia knows that detectives just have to take some things in stride in order to make progress during an investigation, and she’s certainly up to the challenge. Tech-savvy and life-wise, Portia is on the job. Anna Hays’s first novel is a perfect blend of humor, suspense, and discovery. One might call it chickie lit – chick lit for the teen audience. Portia is a charming protagonist who knows that even a mom as cool as hers has to be finessed now and then, and that a best friend doesn’t have to be perfect to be loyal. What’s more, she understands that some mysteries can’t be solved quickly, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth pursuing. The feisty narrative and clever sidebars from Portia’s fact files add to the sense of intimacy between Portia and the reader, bringing the story and the characters alive. Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life is snappy, smart, and sophisticated, and just right for the mature young reader who appreciates a unique reading experience. - Deborah Adams, curled up with a good kid's book
The writing of Anna Hays was so rich, so descriptive, I could literally smell the lemon trees! Who likes to be right? I sure do! So when you see the title "Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life," you read the back and think you know that it's all about a girl who wants to find her father, finds him in the end, and they all live happily ever after! Well, guess what? You're wrong! Though I thought what you thought, I soon realized it was not that predictable! The twists and turns of events captivated me until suddenly I was living in Southern California, loved hats, and had a cat with three names! The writing of Anna Hays was so rich, so descriptive, I could literally smell the lemon trees! The book seemed to glue itself to my hands, not letting me put it down until the last word was read. The characters were so realistic, I almost called my friend, Indigo! Wonderful writing and never being bored is all part of the package known as "Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life." A story about a girl of many hats. Portia's Biggest Fan! - Lily, 'Tween Reader
This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop! This book is about Portia Avatar who is a twelve year old girl living in Palmville, California. When a sudden earthquake hits her town at 3:47 AM, she finds a mysterious picture of her missing father. From the picture, Portia decides her father is a detective. Portia decides that she will solve the case of her missing father, but can she keep it a secret from her vegetarian mother, Indigo? In the middle of her case, Portia discovers a ring which she believes is her mother's wedding ring. Will Portia be able to find out anything about her father from Indigo? Will she find her missing father? This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop! The book was written really well; reading it was easy, and I could relate to Portia's determination to reach her goal once she set her mind to it. I would definitely recommend this book to girls my age. This book was a cliffhanger that kept me guessing to the very last page. - Student Reviewer, Age 12, Flamingnet
A delectable debut! Twelve-year-old Portia Avatar has never had a typical existence. She lives with her out-there, bohemian mother, Indigo, who forces her to participate in a daily dream check; a gray and white cat named Freddy Fred Frederick Avatar who thinks that he's a dog, and is mortally afraid of earthquakes; and must contend with a best friend, Amy "the Amester" Clamdigger, who basically thinks the world revolves around her, and all of the good she's attempting to shower upon the Palmville residents surrounding her. Aside from that, however, Portia's life is completely normal - if you count not having a father normal. There is only one thing in life that Portia wants more than anything else, and that is to find her long-lost father, Patch, and reunite with him. Sure, many kids are lacking a father, but at least they know what happened to him. Portia, on the other hand, has never been able to squeeze even one iota of information about Patch out of Indigo. Instead, the subject is always changed. But after a big one - earthquake, that is - rocks the Palmville community, Portia stumbles upon a photo of a man she just knows has to be Patch. With this photograph, she plans on locating her father. But it's not so simple. Portia spends more time imagining the good that her father is doing as some sort of great detective - which is what she thinks he is - and less time on cold, hard facts - which she is truly lacking. Putting on her thinking cap - and a new newsboy she's recently acquired - Portia decides to take on the role of a Girl Psychoanalytic Detective, using her trusty PDA to record notes and observations about anyone and everything surrounding her. A task she hopes will bring her closer to finding Patch. But with Palmville slowly crumbling to pieces due to the massive earthquakes shaking them up, Portia is having trouble staying on track. She'll have to find a way to balance her detective work, and cleaning up Palmville, or else she may never discover the truth about the father she has always longed for. When I was younger, I used to gobble up detective stories like there was no tomorrow, so I couldn't help myself falling head-over-heels for Anna Hays' Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life at first sight. Portia is a modern-day Harriet M. Welsch (of Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet The Spy). Swapping a pencil and notebook for a high-tech PDA, Portia records many of the things she sees, smells, and thinks on a daily basis. Her imagination is wild, as are her dreams; and her passion for headwear is humorous. Freddy Fred Frederick is a character I couldn't live without, and the affection shared between him and Portia is absolutely adorable. While Amy's continuous bragging, and "me, me, me" attitude can grate on your nerves, Indigo is a breath of fresh air, whose offbeat ways are fun and kooky at the same time. The book does touch open some tough subjects, such as searching for a missing father, and dealing with the tragedy of a life-changing earthquake; but Hays manages to keep the spirits of the characters up, pulling the reader deeper and deeper into the world of the quaint town of Palmville. A delectable debut! - Erika Sorocco, Freelance Reviewer
This book is a very captivating and memorable read. I truly love the book Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life because it is very hard to put down. I very much like mysteries and girly books and this book is both. I especially like it when they have good food and its recipes. Like the Chocolate Coconut Confessions. It makes the book seem realistic. ... This book is a very captivating and memorable read. - Naomi, Age 12
Move over Harriet the Spy… Portia’s in town. Nothing good ever comes out of an earthquake. Objects fall and some shatter, and your pet cat becomes frightened for days. Portia totally understands all of this since her home is in California. However, this earthquake was different from all the others. Waking her a few hours before when she was really supposed to be up, the earthquake resulted in her finding a picture of the father she always wanted to know. Her mother has been no help with Portia's curiosity about her father, since she automatically changes the subject when his name is brought up. Portia knows that this picture that was behind another picture has to be her dad. The only moments she has with her father, Patch, are in her dreams - literally. Portia receives postcards from him whenever she dreams in her sleep, and the only thing she knows about him is that he is undercover solving a mystery. The way he looks in the picture definitely proves that he is a detective, and Portia is certain that she inherited the detective gene. Portia always keeps data about friends, family, and even strangers, and is always looking at details. She obviously can’t ask her mother about the picture, since she just isn’t any help at all. So all Portia has to do is discover who her father really is, and where he is - all while surviving school, annoying friends, the “healthy” food that her mom provides for her, and even boys!? Move over Harriet the Spy… Portia’s in town. Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life is a quick, fun, and entertaining read. Nothing can get past Portia and it definitely shows. Throughout the novel she collects observations, descriptions, and anything she deems suspicious. Anna Hays takes her readers on a thrilling ride with quirky characters and a wonderful plot. With a cliffhanger to end the book, let's just hope that another installment is in the works. - Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen, Teens Read Too
After reading Anna Hays' book, I came away with compassion and support for Portia. After reading Anna Hays' book, I came away with compassion and support for Portia. (I'm not a middle schooler or tween, but a mother, and curious to read a new book for this age group.) Growing up with no father myself, made me hopeful with each new clue she discovered, that would help her find her father. As a family therapist, I also know the importance of a father daughter relationship, and how much more difficult it is for a child when the father is alive and unavailable, rather than if he were deceased. I loved her relationship with her mother. I loved Portia's hats and spunkiness. I loved her blooming crush. Overall, I loved the way Anna touched on the most important relationships we have in a moving, fun, creative way. Loved the recipes, too! Good luck, Anna. And I hope Portia finds her father by the last book of your series. You are doing a series, aren't you? - Yolanda, Mom Reviewer
Readers of Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life are in for a treat. It is 3:47 A.M. in Palmville, California, and there has just been an earthquake. Portia is used to that sort of thing, but it still comes as a surprise when it happens at night. Freddy Fred Frederick, Portia's cat never seems to get used to the rock and roll of earthquakes. His reaction is to hide under Portia's bed, and even tasty treats used a bribes won't lure him from the safety of his hiding place. Portia is surprised when her mother wakes her later that morning. She had been dreaming of far-away places and the father she never really knew. When she hears school has been cancelled due to the earthquake, she has time to contemplate this most recent dream of her wandering father. Portia focuses on the unique quality of her dreams. Her sleeping mind invents amazing adventures and imagines her father as a mysterious detective. Each dream places him in some new location and Portia receives "dream postcards" with mysterious and unreadable messages. More than anything, Portia would like to know about her absent father, but earthquake damage requires her immediate attention. Since there is no school, she is drafted by her mother to help clean up the family business. Indigo, Portia's mother, owns and runs a health food cafe called Contentment or The Tent. It has sustained considerable damage from the quake and its aftershocks. While helping to clean Indigo's office, Portia finds a possible clue to the mystery of her father. The clue gives her the courage she needs to begin a serious search to locate him. Readers of Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double LIfe are in for a treat. Portia's tale is cleverly told with humorous twists and turns. Quirky characters fill the pages as the community of Palmville attempts to make their earthquake-ravaged town beautiful again. The community effort is inspiration for Portia to begin the adventure unraveling the mysteries of her missing parent. Young teens will find much to like about Portia and her situation. - Reading Junky
I really liked this book and would gladly add it to my own collection. Portia Avatar lives in Palmville, California and has just experienced another earthquake, but this time it's worse than before. While Portia's helps her mom clean up her restaurant, she is also trying to find out more about her missing father patch. I really liked this book it had a great story of how a twelve year-old girl tries to deal with another earthquake catastrophe and having no father. I really liked this book and would gladly add it to my own collection. - Student Reviewer, Kiss the Book
Dear Anna Hays, My name is Samantha. I am 10 years old and I am from Ohio. I just got finished reading your book Portia’s Ultra Mysterious Double Life. I thought it was amazing. It just made me want to read more! You have inspired me to become an author someday. I thought your book was so great I think you should write another! I think it should be about if Portia and Indigo ever find Portia’s father Patch, if Portia and Webster are dating, and why the ring and the statuette have the same design. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Samantha
Dear Mrs. Hays, Thank you for sharing your book, Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life. I never knew how hard it is to write and publish a book, and that you have to go through such a big process. Like Portia, I have a cat and have survived at least two earthquakes. I wish to become an author like you, Mrs. Hays. Sincerely, Theo
Dear Mrs. Hays, Thank you for giving us the inside of the book that you have written and the upcoming one that you are still writing. My favorite part of your presentation was when you told us that you wrote your first book for pleasure. Thank you. Sincerely, Alonzo.
Dear Anna Hays, Thank you so much for taking your time to teach my class about being a writer. I love to write books and I learned some very interesting tips. One thing iI learned was that you don't always have to write a book perfectly in order. You can always go back and make changes. ... I think how you made your book fun and also mysterious was a great way to draw in the reader. I love how you told us how you got the funny names for all of your characters. I think now that I should make my characters' names have more meaning. Thanks again, Molly
Dear Ms. Hays Thank you for coming to school and sharing your book with us. l learned what a double life REALLY is. At first, I thought a double life was a life where you live twice! I am happy that I learned what it meant because I would have been WAY off. Sincerely, Thaddeus
Dear Ms. Hays, Thank you for your time. I learned all of the steps to write a book. I wrote a book too, but it was not as good as our book. It was about my trip to Sea World, But that was in my old school. Sincerely, Maeve
Dear Ms. Hays, It was really nice of you to visit our school. This is a really nice book and it is very exciting. I love exciting books. Do you? Something I learned was everybody can live their dreams. I liked how Portia had a double life. I love writing because writing is so fun. When you write a story, you just can't wait to write some more. Writing also makes me happy in a different way. When you work hard on writing and you're done, you look at your writing and you are just so proud. Sometimes I just want to cry, but I don't! Yours truly, Drew
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Strawberry Security Squares 1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats Preheat the oven to 350°. Mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the melted butter. Place 2/3 of the mixture in the baking pan and pack it down firmly with your fingers. Stir together the strawberry jam and lemon zest. Spread evenly over the packed crust and sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is a deep brown and the filling has bubbled through on the sides. Makes about 12 squares. Excerpted from Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life ©2008
Chocolate Coconut Confessions 1 1/4 cups chocolate shavings or miniature chocolate chips Grind the chocolate shavings or miniature chocolate chips, sliced almonds, and salt in a food processor for several minutes, until powdery. Remove and reserve 4 tablespoons of the mixture. Add the unhydrogenated shortening to the ground mixture and continue to blend, slowly mix in powdered sugar and add vanilla through the feed tube. Mixture should pull together into a pliable ball, ever so slightly moist so the coconut mixture will stick to it (Add a few more tablespoons powdered sugar if it is too runny. Alternately, if it is too dry, add a few teaspoons of water). Stop and scrape the sides as you go, to ensure even mixing. To Form and Roll Scoop and roll the truffle mixture into walnut-size balls, about 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Toss the reserved chocolate chip and almond mixture with the cup of coconut and place in a small bowl. Roll and press the truffles in the bowl, pressing gently yet firmly to ensure they are evenly coated. Place the finished truffles on a platter or sheet pan and allow to sit for a few minutes. Store at room temperature for several days or freeze for longer periods of time and allow to sit at room temperature for an hour before serving. Makes about three dozen. Excerpted from Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life ©2008
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