No One Else Can Have You

Sixteen-year-old Kippy Bushman lives in Friendship, Wis., population 688—about half of whom seem to make an appearance in this thriller/murder mystery. When Kippy’s best friend, Ruth, is brutally murdered, the town is certain that Ruth’s football star boyfriend is the culprit. But Kippy—who has been given Ruth’s revealing and unflattering diary—and Ruth’s recently discharged brother, Davey, aren’t so sure. They team up to find the real killer in an idiosyncratic and sometimes puzzling whodunit. Hale’s over-the-top characters will make readers both cringe and chuckle, including painfully awkward Kippy herself, who is like a prettier version of the dorky, clueless Sue Heck on The Middle. Hale doesn’t let readers forget they’re in a quirky, small Midwestern town, don’tcha know, and the colloquialisms wear after a while. But the mystery behind Ruth’s death (and behind Ruth herself, whose hard and soft edges come through in her diary) are enough to hold interest. A sweetly amusing romance between Kippy and Davey is another nice touch, and the last few pages are nail-biters, you betcha. A Full Fathom Five property. Ages 14–up. (Jan.)