A fast-paced, suspenseful story.  Narrated by Doug, a “troubled” teen who builds model trains in his basement, and hangs out with his best friend Andy.  This is a very dark book but once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.   Hautman’s writing style is similar to that of Will Weaver’s.

Lily has stopped talking, because if she talks, she will have to tell what happened the day her brother died.  Instead, she secretly reads every Nancy Drew book she can get her hands on.  When Tinny moves to town, Lily puts her detective skills to work, trying to discover Tinny’s secret, but realizes that she may have to start talking in order to save Tinny.

Fantastic.  This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.  I don’t have the time to write a review that will do this book justice, but I highly recommend it.  It will make you think, probably make you cry, and will stay with you for a long time.  Add this to your “must-read” list.

One note:  The prologue starts out a little strange–stick with it because the book will draw you in quickly.  Once you’ve finished the book, go back and reread the prologue.

Janey is severely injured in a car accident, and her parents are killed. Janey and her little sister must then go to live with their grandpa and great-aunt. Immediately, Janey’s sister seems to forget about their parents, and Janey’s aunt is focused on suing and getting money. Janey makes it her mission to help her sister remember their real family, but at the same time, Janey must learn to cope with her memories of the accident, and with the realities of her new life.

Dilly’s mother died when Dilly was 6. Now that she’s 12, Dilly has few memories of her own about her mother. What she does have is a life full of “traditions” that are being kept to honor her mother’s memory. Dilly is tired of doing things to make her mother happy. When Dilly learns about a letter that her mother wrote to her for Dilly to read when she was older, Dilly decides to find the letter and tear it up, before she can read any more decrees from her mother. This was a good book, but nothing spectacular.

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