The Number 7

Louisa and her family were shattered when her mother died of breast cancer; her father and older sister retreated into themselves to mask their pain. Now, Louisa's grandmother has died, and her father moves the family from North Carolina to his childhood home in Pennsylvania. Louisa, 16, never met her grandparents and knows nothing about them, but when an old rotary phone in the attic begins ringing, she hears her dead grandmother on the line, telling Louisa the secret history of her Swedish grandfather's actions in WWII. The calls continue, with the promise that the story ends with a murder the grandfather committed, an effective hook to keep readers turning pages. Debut author Lidh skillfully incorporates information about Swedish history into the gripping story of Louisa's ancestors. Louisa's experiences as the new girl at school while juggling two potential romantic interests covers well-trod ground, with neither boy feeling fully realized, but Louisa's grief is portrayed with honesty, as is her gradual reconnection with her father and sister. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. Agent: Kimiko Nakamura, Dee Mura Literary. (Dec.)