When the going gets tough, you need some good friends by your side that you can rely on. Even if you’re not exactly on their ‘nice list’ anymore.

We know that Serwa Boateng is about to face her most difficult challenges yet. The only question is, which is more difficult: saving the world from your vampire grandma, or mending fences with your (former?) pals in the Good Citizens Committee? The ones who currently may or may not hate your guts.

Friendship on the Rox

Serwa’s cousin Roxy has been by her side ever since the pre-teen vampire slayer first moved to Rocky Gorge. And despite all the chaos and mess that Serwa has dragged her into, Roxy has never complained. Not even once (citation needed).

But ever since Serwa, Roxy, and the rest of the GCC were taken to the Compound, the global headquarters of the vampire-hunting Slayers known as the Abomofuo, and were told that they cannot leave, things have been a little icy between the two cousins. Understandably.

Being held hostage is one thing. But the Abomofuo have also wiped the memories of the GCC’s families so that no one would question why four kids suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth. For their own protection, we’ve been told.

Serwa is used to her life being thrown upside down due to her vampire-hunting heritage. She’s been in slayer-training since diapers. But Roxy and the rest of the GCC are (at least until a few months ago) just a group of normal kids. Should they really be paying the price for Serwa’s half-obayifo heritage?

Serwa certainly doesn’t think so. But we have the sneaking suspicion that Roxy is angry at her cousin for an entirely different reason . . .

Puppy Love

But why talk through your issues when you can simply be sarcastic and passive-aggressive? That’s much easier. Of course, Serwa does expect some snarkiness from her comrades in the GCC, but that role usually goes to Eunju.

Out of all the members of the GCC, Eunju Kim comes from the most privileged background. But just between us, we’ve heard a rumor that the tech company run by the Kim family has been experiencing some financial trouble. Maybe that’s why Eunju’s parents have been fighting so much lately. . .

But Eunju’s home life prior to the memory wipe wasn’t all bad. We would be remiss not to mention Eunju’s fluffy meteor of a dog, Dubu (the one on the cover!).

You’d have to be truly heartless not to grin at the way Dubu practically jumps into Eunju’s arms each time she walks through the door. A useful reminder that, beneath all the snark and insults, Eunju truly is a huge softie.

Most evident by the fact that even as the GCC is seemingly coming apart at the seams, Eunju has been the one to step up and attempt to hold things together. Even going so far as to give her rival Gavin the support he needs to keep the faith that his foster family will eventually recover their memories. Yeah, we’re just as surprised as you are.

But please, for your own safety, don’t go spreading any unfounded rumors about those two. Need we remind you that she can shoot fire out of her hands?

Turning the Tables

Sure, the GCC has seen better days. But one thing is for certain: no matter how mad Roxy is at Serwa, she is not going to let her run off on her own again. Especially now that the GCC has finally regained the lost memories of their previous adventures with Serwa.

Although reversing a memory wipe is not so easy without the help of mmoatia magic, which is unfortunately in short supply these days.

Still, some progress is better than no progress. And we’re sure that it’s only a matter of time before Roxy and Serwa finally work things out. Because, frankly, we’re not convinced they’ll have much choice in the matter.

Because the Good Citizens Committee will need to be at full strength to stand even the slightest chance of victory against Nana Bekoe and her rapidly growing army of obayifo.

But what if we told you that there’s another ticking time bomb threatening to blow up the GCC? You see, what Serwa doesn’t know is that Roxy has been harboring her own little secret. A secret that, once discovered, may cause Serwa to lose trust in her cousin altogether. As if the tension between them wasn’t high enough . . .

Ugh! Who would have thought that the fate of the world would fall on the shoulders of a group of preteens who refuse to be completely honest with one another?

Then again, the book is called Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Saving the World, not ‘ Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Effective Interpersonal Communication.’ Those are two separate skill sets entirely . . .

See more of Roxy and Eunju in Rick Riordan Presents: Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Saving the World by Roseanne A. Brown, on sale now!