Corbett (Free Baseball
), a journalist and PW
contributor, writes an energetic story of a boy whose passion saves the spirit of his small town of Steele, Pa. Twelve-year-old Wil cannot wait to take over his brother Sonny's paper route, a job that has been in his family for decades. So when the publishers of the Cooper County Caller
decide to cut costs by eliminating delivery to Steele, Wil takes action (“He has a tendency to argue his point until the other person collapses from fatigue,” his mother remarks). But Wil discovers that he has more to contend with than losing his job when the town clairvoyant gives him some ominous advice—“You must watch carefully.” His suspicion mounts when the Cooper County Fair opens and no one is able to win the large cash prize in the Cover the Spot game. In addition to trying to save his route, Wil assigns himself the task of solving that mystery (“Steele Boy Opens Investigation,” reads one of the headline-style chapter openers), bringing his community together in the process. Corbett's graceful dialogue, lovingly drawn characters and clever plot form a timely and refreshing tale. Ages 10–up. (Sept.)
