The Secrets Within is book seven in the Saranormal series. Sara Collins turned 13 in book six, Giving Up the Ghost. In book one, Ghost Town, when she'd just moved from California to Stellamar, New Jersey, Sara was only able to see, hear, and talk to ghosts. Since then she's been having visions, true dreams, and has to work to block out others' thoughts. Good thing for her that her great-grandmother, Lady Azura, is also a psychic and can help Sara with her powers/encounters with ghosts -- even if Lady Azura's powers are fading. Sara's widowed father, Mike, has come a long way toward accepting Lady Azura and Sara's abilities since book one, but discussing them still makes him uneasy..

Sara's unofficial first boyfriend, Jayden Mendes, has moved back to Atlanta, Georgia. Shy Sara's best friend, outgoing and bubbly Lily Randazzo, is sure Sara will meet a new guy soon. (Lily changes crushes frequently.) As this book opens, Sara is sleeping over at Lily's house, in Cammie (Lily's little sister's) bed. Cammie isn't put out about that because she gets to sleep with her parents. If Mr. & Mrs. Randazzo mind, Ms. Rivers isn't telling us.

Lily has only figured out that Sara can read minds, or could -- Sara says she can't anymore. Lily still doesn't know about the rest of Sara's abilities. Why so shy, Sara? Doesn't Lily think that your psychic great-grandmother is cool?

This book's Stellamar tradition for Sara to learn about is a fundraiser for the local schools called 'Bargain on the Boardwalk.' For some reason, Lady Azura has never donated to the fundraiser.

Another part of the plot is a lovable dog who enters the Randazzos' life. The new power that Sara develops in this book allows her to know that the dog is not abandoned, but it would break Lily's heart to lose Buddy. Once again, Sara has to choose between doing what is right and possibly losing the first best friend this 13-year-old has ever had as a result. (It doesn't help that Sara has learned that Buddy's owner is really boy about her age.)

NOTES:

Chapter 1:

a. It's Mother's Day. Natalie Collins died shortly after Sara was born, so she's never celebrated the holiday.

b. We found out that Lily's mother's first name is Beth in chapter 14 of book 4, Spirits of the Season. Here we learn that Lily's father's name is Sam. Two other things we learn about him is that he's a Bruce Springsteen fan and that he's much messier at making pancakes than Mike Collins is at making waffles.

c. Lily loves holidays, even Groundhog Day and Arbor Day (the day to celebrate and plant trees).

d. The Mother's Day lunch Beth and Lily will be attending at Aunt Angela's will include Lily's Great-Aunt Ro, Aunt Dani's family, 7 cousin Lauren Grace.

e. Lily's brothers, Sammy, Joey, and Jake bring in the filthy small dog they found.

f. Lily wants to have three dogs named Kiwi, Cupid, and Coco (if Sara remembers correctly), when she grows up.

g. Sara experiences her new power for the first time when she touches the dog's collar.

Chapter 2:

a. Lily had a crush on Kyle in book five, Moment of Truth.

b. Sara's aura is now cobalt blue mixed with gold.

c. We find out why Lady Azura donates money instead of any of her things to Bargain on the Boardwalk.

d. Sara has known about most of the ghosts in the house since book one. She learned the name of the mustached man, Mr. Broadhurst, in chapter 7 of book two, Haunted Memories. She learned about Henry (a Randazzo), the boy ghost in her craft room closet, in chapter 7 of book three, Mischief Night.

e. Sara tells her about some of the sentimental items of her dad's that are in the attic -- and why she'd be happy to donate some toys.

Chapter 3:

a. Sara got to wear her mother's dress in book five.

b. Sara has another vision after holding another of her mother's dresses. (The song Sara is hearing is 'I Believe I Can Fly' by R. Kelly. (The scandals about Kelly became more widely known in 2017-1018, well after this book was written.)

Chapter 4:

a. The dog is still with the Randazzos because the animal shelter is full.

b. The school web newspaper is the 'Stellamar Wire'. Sara successfully tried to become a staff photographer for it in book three.

c. Interesting that Griffin Ellery's soccer jersey is red. In chapter 5 of book three, the soccer uniforms were blue and gold.

d. Sara learns something about Miranda when she borrows her pen.

Chapter 5:

a. Sara sees the Mystery Boy in her mind again.

b. Beth Randazzo tells Sara about the spell she and her friend Suzanne tried to get Beth's crush, Kevin Down, to notice her when she was a girl.

c. The dog gets his name back, thanks to Sara.

Chapter 6:

a. A Mrs. Grasing is a client who sees Lady Azura every other Wednesday

b. Lady Azura gives Sara a Herkimer diamond this time (not a real diamond).

c. We learned in chapter 1 of book five, the owner of Scoops isn't really Lily's uncle, just a family friend.

d. Sara has a vision when she tries on a vintage ring and another from a vintage necklace

Chapter 7:

a. Lily's cousin C.J. fixes computers.

b. Miranda's family owns Rich's Hardware.

c. Sara watches a woman's ghost influence a living woman (who has a little son named Simon) to buy a vase.

d. Another woman's ghost begs a favor of Sara.

Chapter 8:

a. Sara finds an iron dog that looks like Buddy.

b. Sara has a nightmare.

Chapter 9:

a. Lady Azura explains psychometry to Sara. Lady Azura was very good at it when she was younger.

b. Sara's late Great-Grandfather Richard's nickname for Lady Azura was 'Zuri".

Chapter 10:

a. Sara has another vision while touching Buddy's collar.

b. Lily's brother Joey has a goldfish.

c. Sara learns a bit about Lady Azura's past exploits from a newspaper article.

Chapter 11: Sara dreams about the same person as in chapter 8.

Chapter 12: Lady Azura's séance is successful this time. The man's name was Erik.

Chapter 14:

a. Lady Azura is teaching Sara about Tarot cards.

b. The town newspaper is the 'Stellamar Sentinel'.

c. Lady Azura keeps a porcelain doll that belonged to her when she was a child in her fortunetelling room.

d. Thomas and Helen Meyer's grandchildren are a 13-year-old named Mason and six-year-old twins named Ben and Rachel.

Sara gets to help solve an old mystery in this one. She also has the chance to someday meet a boy who might take her mind off Jayden. I've ordered book eight for myself because my county's libraries don't have the whole set. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Dog lovers: Rejoice! This series finally has a pet in it and he's a cute little mutt named Buddy. ( )

Now that Sara has turned 13, her powers are changing. Suddenly when she touches things, she has visions of the past. Can this new power help solve an old robbery case and help find the owners of a lost dog?

You got to love Sara. Her life sucks on so many levels. Yet, she manages to go to school and attempt to be a normal girl. I still love the town she lives in and her family and friends rock. The addition of a dog did not hurt either. In this book Sara has to decide between siding with her best friend or doing the right thing. Good stuff for kids to consider.The resolution to some of the problems in these books sometimes are pretty pat. But hey, they are kid's books. My problems should be solved so easily. ( )