Graduation is approaching and tap time has arrived. Amy and her brothers are searching for suitable Eli-ites to replace them in Rose and Grave and are running into a few more issues than expected. Amy's list of prospective Diggers is growing and shrinking, and while she's doing recon on her candidates she's also trying to finish her thesis and get closer to her new boyfriend. Everything comes to a climax when information is revealed about Amy's first choice that threatens to undo over 50 years of society history.This book was a great ending to a great series. I was nervous that the last book would totally undo all the awesomeness of the previous books but thankfully it didn't. Funnily enough, all my predictions about this book were wrong. George and Clarissa did not end up together, Matthew did not get a Digger boyfriend, and the Diggers didn't redeem themselves. Though they did seem a lot less pathetic. My only disappointment was that Michelle wasn't in any previous books. She was awesome and had way too few appearances. Unlike the titles for the first book, 'Secret Society Girl', and the third, 'Rite of Spring (Break)', I love the title to this installment. Punny but apt. This is what I'm talking about. But of course, a title does not a good book make so the real question is whether or not this one had the goods. And the answer is yes. In the final installment of Diana Peterfreud's Secret Society Girl series the reader is given a good continuation of the story that started with Amy's initiation into the first tap class of the secret society Rose & Grave to tap females her Junior year at Eli University (Yale). It's that time of year again, the time when every Digger (member of Rose & Grave) must find a new tap to replace them after graduation. Amy Haskell, as former editor of the Literary Magazine, as three clear choices; legacy Topher Cox, brainy Kalani, and down to earth Arielle. But after Arielle is tapped by Quill & Ink and Kalani is revealed to be a member of the three year society, St. Linus Hall, Amy is not quite pleased with her obnoxious leftovers. That is until she meets her science TA, undergrad Michelle who's a possibility to take the final spot. But Michelle has a few skeletons in her closet that might just conspire to bring the society down. Between tap and her new boyfriend it's clear that Amy's last term at Eli will be one to remember. I really enjoyed this final installment in the series. The tap process was laid out clear and interesting. The introductions of new characters were seamless and the characters themselves interesting. The whole series was an interesting view of a group that gets thrown together and what their learn about each other and the loyalty they share, but this book really illustrated that fact with showing what Amy went through in the first book from the other side. I loved the whole part with the taps. --- was particularly great and though I initially didn't quite get how she would hook into Rose & Grave I thought it worked perfectly. Particularly her reaction when she realized which society it was that was tapping her. Amy's relationships with those both in and outside Rose & Grave were very strong. Lydia, her roommate and best friend, continued to be a strong presence. I loved her inclusion and thought it was important to show that Amy does not forget her outside life just because she's joined this society, that she can still have both. Brandon was hardly a character here, which made sense, but I was pleased there could be some resolution between them. Finally, Amy's relationship with Jamie continued to grow and be challenged. I thought it was very organic and I thought the ending was perfect, if not convenient. It was the ending I expected, anyway, but I was still pleased when it came about. Overall, this was a great conclusion to this series. My only complaint is that it was just that, a conclusion. I'll miss Amy and the rest of the Diggers.
What do You think about Tap & Gown (2009)?
Great ending to the series, though I wish there would be another book.
—olezhyk
I loved this series. I'm so very sad to see it end.
—kupiekakez
