When the Frost is Gone

Just after she turns 13, Natalie reflects on the events of a landmark summer: a joyful Fourth of July block party and, one month later, a fire that destroys the house of Natalie's best friend, Tasha, an African American girl ``who can see clear through me into places I can't even find.'' Natalie has fireworks of her own when her mother, a drug addict, returns briefly to their home. Despite her mother's attempts at home-cooked breakfasts and cozy conversations, Natalie cannot forgive her absence, nor the dark, frightening scenes her mother has involved her in. Lonely for Tasha, whose family has had to move away, and angry with her mother, Natalie is filled with rage and despair: ``Most of all I hated what I felt inside myself.'' The friendship of a wise old Italian neighbor, Mr. Pettinato, helps Natalie achieve equilibrium. Skillfully written as snippets of Natalie's memories, this is a novella of hard truths and tough times, offering a portrait of urban life in all its colors. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)