Kelly and Me

A distinctly Southern flavor, swift pace and ebullient characters distinguish this fine first novel. Egged on by Papa, their Korean War vet grandfather, 11-year-old Leah and her younger sister, Kelly, invent their own brand of summer adventure right in their own backyard. Some of their antics include stealing their father's car, hiding the corpse of a dog, carrying out a Tom Sawyer-esque cure for warts, skinny-dipping at midnight and shooting bullets at the bedroom ceiling. The reckless hilarity comes to a halt as fall approaches and tragedy strikes. . . . While most of Williams's narrative is smooth and appears effortless, her conclusion is somewhat knotted. Kelly dies suddenly, during an argument about Pop Tarts. The grieving process that follows--coming to terms with mortality, reconciliation among survivors--is glossed over in a few pages. Ultimately, what will be remembered most about this novel is not the shocking climax but rather the partners-in-crime relationship of the sisters and their ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)