Spirit's Key

Spirit Holden and her father have lived on Bald Island for six years; they are still considered "dingbatters," or outsiders, but are tolerated for her father's gift of second sight%E2%80%94he can hold a house key and warn of impending disaster. Spirit is in mourning for her beloved Sky, a "baldie" or native dog, who died mysteriously. As Spirit's own latent powers start to manifest, and she's haunted by Sky's ghost, other baldies turn up dead. The islanders consider the dogs "devilish beasts" and see their deaths as the harbinger of disaster, especially when a frightening illness threatens to sweep the island. Spirit suspects more, and when her father falls sick she enlists the help of her neighbor, Nector Hatterask, to find out who is hurting the baldies and save them from extinction. Cohn's debut is lyrical and heartfelt, addressing an insular society's fear of the unknown and how it can be exploited, but the story tangles and slows in its own charming prose and theme of melancholy and loss. Ages 9%E2%80%9312. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger. (Sept.)