Tails of the Bronx: A Tale of the Bronx

This magnificent mystery is populated with a spirited cast: Loretta Bernstein, who wants to be a forest ranger; Calvin, Loretta's little brother who, at six, is already faster than anyone else on the block; The Raven, a wheelchair-bound graffiti artist with a passion for Edgar Allen Poe; Julio, who's a walking dictionary; and a host of other local eccentrics--including the neighborhood witch. Revealing details of the plot would spoil the enjoyment of this multilayered story. Loretta and her friends solve the mystery, only to come upon a deeper one--and in solving that, uncover a third, unsolvable mystery that lies at the very core of life in a poor, struggling urban neighborhood. By turns outrageously funny and heartbreaking, Pinkwater's ( Buffalo Brenda ; The Disappearance of Sister Perfect ) riveting book is solid, thought-provoking entertainment. Ages 8-12. (May)