Coffeehouse Angel

When 16-year-old Katrina leaves coffee and pastries for the homeless guy sleeping behind her grandmother's coffeehouse, she has no idea he's actually an angel named Malcolm, who will change her life by giving her coffee beans that will bring her what she most desires. Katrina is skeptical, even after her best friend, Vincent, drinks coffee from the first bean and gains fortune, and the second bean is eaten by the coffeehouse cat, Ratcatcher, who becomes famous for killing a huge wharf rat. Instead, she is too busy worrying about aggressive attempts by neighboring coffee shop Java Heaven to drive them out of business. When Vincent starts dating Heidi, daughter of the owner of Java Heaven, the friends have a falling out. Bits of Scandinavian culture lace Selfors's (Saving Juliet ) smalltown America setting, and she ties up the loose ends nicely. Though this airy story is slow to start, the conclusion will satisfy. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)