Will and Whit

There are three things to know about 16-year-old Willhemena Huckstep: she always describes people by saying there are three things you should know about them, she’s smart and funny, and something has made her afraid of the dark. Fortunately, some quirky friends—Autumn, who makes puppets, and Noel, who’s secretly in love with Autumn—and the diversions of tropical storm Whitney and a community art event offer Will the support she needs. Gulledge (Page by Paige) creates engaging characters (especially Reese, Noel’s precocious younger sister), and draws them with believable expressiveness. The shadows that haunt Will are visible to readers and drop plenty of hints about her story, like the gray image of a destroyed car that appears as the shadow of an ordinary one as Will cycles by. Trauma and creativity, strength in community, and truth-telling are all thoughtfully examined, and the jokes are good, too: “This cookie’s ruined!” Autumn announces to Noel. “Someone licked it,” she says, licking it. “How tragic!” Gulledge’s values are wholesome, and her energy is up-to-the-minute fresh. Ages 12–up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (May)■