A Little Magic — Sharon E. Heisel

Gr 5-6-- Until her young cousin Corky claims that he sees ghosts, Jessica has nothing more important to worry about than completing her science project and deciding whom to invite to her 13th birthday party. Although Corky has been easily upset since his father's death, his fears seem validated by a series of frightening incidents in the hills behind their neighboring homes. When one of Jessica's classmates disappears, the cousins discover that she has been kidnapped by marijuana growers, and in an exciting climax they participate in her rescue. Heisel strikes a good balance between Jessica's concerns with school, friends, and a first romance and her involvement in the mystery. She is a believable heroine who, in the course of the novel, learns to be more understanding and aware of the problems of others. The mystery develops logically and fairly with clues and red herrings planted unobstrusively, and Heisel effectively incorporates the rural Oregon setting into her story. The existence of a possible supernatural element heightens suspense. A well-plotted, better-than-average mystery. --Tatiana Castleton, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, CA