RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE, by Lane Smith

The story: Augie Hobble is a funny kid, but un-funny stuff keeps happening to him. Bullies, weird stuff at his dad's amusement park--and a possible run-in with not only a werewolf, but a ghost as well. Don't let the "day at the rundown old park" start fool you: this book goes directly from fort-building in the woods to possible werewolves howling at the moon, from buddy story to sucker-punch tragedy, and all the way back again.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; magic and the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (death of a close friend, guilt, paranormal action) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This was a very strange book, and I found the approach to the unexpected tragedy in the middle of it a little hard to accept. Additionally, the story and its many moods shift so rapidly from place to place that kids reading it and expecting one kind of story may very well be left scratching their heads at the abrupt changes of focus. Give this one to kids who are not easily distracted or upset by outside-the-box thinking!