Where I Want to Be

At 14, Kristie is practically an orphan: her father died last year, and her mother ran off when Kristie was six. Kristie lives in tiny Show Low, Ariz., with her half-brother Kyle and his brother Derrin; in an energetic first-person narrative she tackles the quotidian dramas that define life in a quirky small town. Clever, funny and talented, Kristie is not above manipulating her brothers to get her way, but she gradually discovers just what they mean to her. First-time author DeVito displays a mature narrative style and an attention to unusual families that calls to mind Colby Rodowsky and Cynthia Voigt. Readers may need a boost to start into the book, but Kristie's distinctive brand of brave, wisecracking humor should endear her to her audience. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)