The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly

by Rebecca K. S. Ansari

In this beautifully inventive debut, Charlie O’Reilly has lost his little brother. He wished him away the night before his birthday, and now he is missing. The worst part is that no one, including his parents, believe Liam ever existed. Every trace of Liam is gone, and Charlie’s insistence that he was real has driven his mother into a deep depression. His only solace is his friend Ana, who vows to help him find Liam, even though she can’t remember him either. When Charlie finds a note in his room suggesting they talk to Jonathan, his new assistant baseball coach, they discover there might be hope to save Liam after all. However, the quest won’t be without risks, and they may have to give up more than they expected to find him. Readers will bite their nails and cheer for Charlie and his friends every step of the way. A sympathetic villain adds depth and complexity to the story, and plot turns abound, both delightful and heartbreaking.

The Whispers

by Greg Howard

Oh my goodness. This book. It's funny, sweet, sad, shocking, moving, suspenseful, heart-breaking and heart-warming.

Riley. He's an 11 year old South Carolina southern boy. He loves his dog, his mama, Jesus, being outside, and his grandma's cooking. He also has a major crush on the farm boy down the road, but only his best friend Gary knows about that. Life is pretty good, until his mama goes missing. Riley's world is turned upside down. It doesn't help that his older brother is a real jerk, and since his mama went away, he can't think of the last time his daddy even said his name. He thinks it's his fault his mama is gone, and he's convinced the cops are idiots and it's up to him to bring her home. He remembers a story she used to tell him about creatures called the whispers. If you bring them a tribute, they will give you your heart's desire. Riley thinks if he can just find the right offering, maybe the whispers can help him bring mama home.