Out of Nowhere

Left on the desert to fend for himself after his free-spirited mother runs off with the owner of a BMW, 13-year-old Harley joins forces with four other cast-offs, namely Ish, a pit bull dumped by his owner; May, a recently divorced 70-year-old woman; Bill, who finds himself facing eviction after he is released from a hospital; and Singer, a young drifter. Making a home for themselves out of the run-down brick house inherited by May, the unlikely quintet help one another learn rules of survival as they weather various crises. Less meticulously crafted and less startling than the author's previous novels ( Words by Heart ; The Girl in the Box ), this tender book focuses on the experiences of Harley, but others in the cast play a key role in conveying a message about companionship, cooperation and compassion. While tiffs between fastidious May and junk-collecting Bill add humor to the story, Singer's undying, unconditional love balances tragic undertones. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)