Feather Boy (by Nicky Singer)

Robert is the shrimpy kid with glasses who gets picked on at school. Niker, who gave him his nickname, Norbert No-Bottle, is his primary tormentor. When their class goes to an old folks' home as a class project, Robert is stuck with horrible old Edith Sorrel, whom no one likes. At their first meeting she tells him to go to Chance House, which turns out to be an old abandoned house where a boy supposedly jumped to his death from the third floor window some thirty years before.

Niker, trying to impress a girl, challenges Robert to join him in spending the night in the room from which the boy is supposed to have jumped. But this night is just the beginning of a journey that makes Robert sit up and really notice everyone and everything around him -- including the magic, and the truth, that both may be hiding in Chance House.

Many adult authors have more trouble with their first children's books than they expected, but Singer nails it the first time out. She carefully and discreetly lays all the pieces in place for a hugely emotional climax, and weaves just a hint of magic throughout. All the characters -- Robert, his mother, Edith, her husband Ernest, and others -- are fascinating and complex, but none more so than Niker, who is not your average bully.

This sort of lovely, lyrical, deeply moving, vaguely magical character study is becoming quite a specialty of the Brits: David Almond, Tim Bowler, Peter Dickinson, and others have written books with a similar tone. The BBC has even turned this book into a TV series. Though it's certainly not aimed at action-adventure buffs, even some of them will be captivated by the mystery and gentle suspense.

Author: Nicky Singer
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: June 20, 2004
Number of pages: 259
Hardcover price: $15.95