Sierra Jensen finally seems to have settled into her new life
in Portland. In CLOSE YOUR EYES, the fourth installment of Robin
Jones Gunn’s Sierra Jensen series, not only is the
protagonist doing well in school and beginning to contemplate her
college options, she also has a solid group of friends ---
something she had desperately needed for so long. However, despite
her successes, there is one thing Sierra doesn’t have:
Paul.

Even though they have spent no more than a few hours together and
only exchanged a couple of brief letters, Sierra is becoming
increasingly more infatuated with her mystery man. Her friends, on
the other hand, have different ideas. Sierra is beginning to
realize that everyone in school thinks she and her best
“buddy” Randy are actually a romantic item. But does
Randy think they are a couple? As much as she likes Randy, her
thoughts constantly return to Paul.

Best friend Amy begins planning a series of romantic dates and
dinners for Sierra and Randy to attend together. Sierra is also
comforted by the fact that she will soon be starting a community
service project for class. Things get off to a complicated start,
as she is not only placed with Randy but also with Tre, who has a
very bad reputation preceding him. Surely all of this will keep
away thoughts of Paul --- until she arrives to volunteer at the
Highland House and finds out that Paul himself works there!

Now that their paths have crossed again, Sierra has a real
opportunity to turn her dreams into reality. As they spend more
time together, Sierra begins to think, or at least hope, that her
infatuation is not at all one-sided. But she soon receives some
startling news. In a matter of weeks, Paul will be moving to
Scotland to attend university and work at his grandfather’s
mission. Wanting to get her feelings out into the open before he
leaves, Sierra has the heart-to-heart conversation with Paul she
had been waiting for. Will her dreams finally be realized? Or will
they be completely crushed?

CLOSE YOUR EYES is a very satisfying addition to the Sierra
Jensen series. Fans will be relieved to have Paul present as
an actual character, as opposed to the long-agonized-over ideal he
had been in previous books. While the events can seem predictable
at times, and even unlikely (such as the constantly reappearing
Paul), young teens undoubtedly will enjoy Gunn’s fun and
captivating writing.

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