Out of the Blue

Canadian author Ellis (Pick-Up Sticks) refreshes a popular theme about reunited adoptees and birth mothers by exploring how the appearance of a previously unknown sibling affects other children in the family. Megan is sure that her parents are planning a special surprise for her twelfth birthday. But the surprise that Mum shares is her just-kindled relationship with Natalie, the daughter she hasn't seen since she put her up for adoption 17 years ago. Second-grader Betsy is thrilled and can't wait to be the flower girl in her new big sister's wedding. Megan, however, feels resentful and anxious as Mum talks about nothing but Natalie, who, at 24, tends to be dogmatic and self-righteous. More troubling, Megan wonders how, if her parents didn't tell her about Natalie, she can ever trust anything else they say. As in life, nobody is perfect in this searching, thoughtful novel-which makes it all the more satisfying when Megan at last finds room in her heart for each of the members of her family. Ages 10-14. (May)