Carol M. Tanzman

Carol M. Tanzman builds school-centered suspense and brings her experience in theatre and arts education to stories about performance, observation, and public voice. Circle of Silence follows Valerie Gaines as she leads the Campus News team at Washington Irving High. What begins with strange school pranks becomes a serious investigation when a secret group, coded messages, and an injured student suggest that someone is controlling the story. The 2012 edition bears the Harlequin Teen imprint and classifies it across young-reader mystery, suspense, romance, and social themes. Tanzman makes reporting central to the plot: Valerie and her crew must verify leads, decide whom to trust, and consider the risks of broadcasting what they uncover. The book follows dancergirl and returns to the Campus News characters, but its investigation has a distinct focus. For newcomers, Tanzman offers brisk ensemble storytelling, a school setting used as a genuine community, and tension built around the responsibilities that accompany access to a camera and an audience.