The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin. Delacorte Press, 1998. 228 Pages.

Psycological thriller a la Lois Duncan's Killing Mr.Griffin. Teenage David, recently aquitted of murdering his girlfriend, moves to Cambridge to finish highshcool where he is not known. He lives with his distant aunt and uncle and his very strange young cousin, and sleeps in the same appartment his other cousin killed herself in. Soon David starts seeing and hearing things, and cousin Lily lets him know he is not wanted. the local locale adds to the fun-- for adults anyway. a page turner.

No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis. Groundwood Books, 2011, 160 pages.

A fast paced quick read-- realistic fiction issue book from Deborah Ellis-- well done and powerful. Valli's short life has been very rough-- coal picking and virtually enslaved to a poor family in India. Abused in every way, Valli runs off to live by herself on the streets of Calcutta where she eventually meets a Doctor who convinces her to trust enough to get medical treatment for her leprosy. Sharp and powerfully told in Valli's own voice. All too realistic fiction. I love Deborah Ellis.

Balloons Over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

Fascinating story of Tony Sarg and the origins of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons. Light on the dates--always an issue for librarians and teachers-- but rich in narrative-- always a plus for kids. Makes this nonfiction informational book very, very readable and accessible to all. i loved it. pair with holiday books, art, engineering, inventions, and any puppet program you may have. Look for the Jim Henson connection. Caldecott Honor. Siebert winner.

SuckerPunch by David Hernandez. Harper Teen, NY. 217 pages.

Dark. Disfunctional family, teens with problems. Domestic Abuse. Very dark. thought i would like it more than i did. could not finish it.