A NORTHERN LIGHT

Jennifer Donnelly, . . Harcourt, $8.95 (396pp) ISBN 978-0-15-205310-9

Donnelly weaves the fictional story of 16-year-old Mattie into the events of the Gilette murder case (also the inspiration of Dreiser's An American Tragedy ). "The author's ability to recast the murder mystery as a cautionary tale for Mattie makes the heroine's pending decision about her future the greatest source of suspense," said PW 's Best Books citation. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)

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