WAITING FOR SARAH

As this Canadian novel opens, Mike Scott's father, mother and sister die in a car crash that leaves him legless and wheelchair-bound. Sullen and withdrawn, Mike goes to live with his aunt Norma, who eventually convinces him to return to high school in time for his senior year and graduation. As he works alone on a project in the school library, Sarah, a perky eighth-grader, boldly befriends him, despite his best efforts to keep her, like everyone else, at arm's length. Gradually, the boy begins to enjoy Sarah's company, just in time to learn her supernatural secret. Mike's bone-chilling discovery marks the pivot point where the book moves from angry character study to paranormal redemption tale. Both halves of the book will engage the target audience. Mike's inner torment echoes familiar questions—Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do children die while evil men live to ripe old age?—and his coming to terms with them is mature and thoughtful. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)