Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2011. 362pp. Grades 9-12.
Scooter-riding, sharp-talking private dick Dalton Rev aims to solve the mystery behind the death of Salt River High student Wesley Payne, who was found duct-taped and hanging from the goalposts on the football field. Dalton transfers to Salt River to take on the case, assisted by a series of unlikely allies. Mole is his wannabe sidekick, Macy is the petite blonde that Dalton can’t stop thinking about, and Cassiopeia Jones is his ex-girlfriend with a new look – thigh-high boots and punk-dyed hair – who leads the ass-kicking girl troupe Foxxes. But as Dalton investigates, he finds that the case has more twists than a king-sized corkscrew. Beaudoin’s vivid writing, snappy dialogue, and slightly askew high school setting make this a great choice for readers bored with too-realistic fiction. The book includes a glossary to define the unique terminology, such as “fish stick” (loser), “splash box” (toilet), and “Thank Bob!” The oft-used “farck” may become teen readers’ favorite new word. Recommended.
Jago, Lucy. The Coven’s Daughter. New York: Hyperion/Disney, 2011. 246pp. Grades 6-8.
May Day in sixteenth-century Montecute, England, means maypoles, dancing, drinking, and lectures from the village parson. For Cecily Perryn, who is about to turn thirteen, May Day is just another day to tend the chickens at the earl’s manor and avoid the scornful looks of the villagers. “Cess” is fatherless and poor, and her only friend is William, who is also scorned because of his clubfoot. But on this May Day, the villagers are distracted by news of boys disappearing from a nearby village. One of the boys’ bodies was found, bruised, broken, and covered in boils – all signs of the “shaking” sickness. When William goes missing, Cess must look within herself for the strength to help him, and to protect the whole kingdom from a growing evil. With the aid of benevolent witches, she learns to control her scrying dreams to see ahead of time, and she is taken in as a daughter of the coven. Jago’s writing is filled with the details of the time period, including pungent smells, well-described clothing, and turns of phrase such as the oath “God’s wounds!” Younger teens will be drawn in to this richly woven tapestry of witches, superstition, and conspiracy, complete with secret tunnels and an evil sorcerer. Highly recommended.
Marchetta, Melina. The Piper’s Son. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. 328pp. Grades 9-12.
Thomas Mackee just can’t get it right. He’s still hung up on his one-and-a-half-night stand and former best friend, Tara. He dropped out of university and spent the year after his Uncle Joe died getting wasted, and only occasionally playing guitar. He’s still waiting for his alcoholic father, the charismatic Dominic, to reclaim Tom’s mother and reunite their family. Meanwhile, Tom’s aunt Georgie is pregnant by her ex-husband, who had a son with another woman after a meaningless fling, but none of the family knows what to say about this news. Without his usual role as the piper’s son, Tom is adrift. And everyone is still grieving for Joe, who died in a train bombing in London. In chapters alternating between Tom and Georgie, this follow-up to Saving Francesca (2004) shows the havoc grief and separation can wreak. The Australian setting is not as important as the well-developed relationships, especially among the friends and family who help Tom limp back to the right path. Prepare for tears. Highly recommended.
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