Mazemaker

Winnie and her friend Harry have only the city schoolyard to hang out in, with its broken glass and graffiti-covered walls. But one day a cat they've found runs through a spray-painted maze they discover--and disappears. Winnie, too, runs the maze, which transports her through time to 1889, and delivers her into the hands of a deranged woman, Mrs. Minot, who is determined to use the maze's power for herself. Winnie learns of others who have disappeared; if she is to find her own way home, she must prevent Mrs. Minot from altering time. While not as chilling as Dexter's Oracle Doll , Mazemaker is still riveting, with likable characters in Winnie, Harry and Lily. The ending, if plausible, is a little too easy, but overall the book is a worthwhile read. Ages 10-14. (May)