Restless by Rich Wallace - One of this year's Eliot Rosewater books, it's a wonderfully written YA ghost story. Not scary ghost story, mind you, but believable ghost story. It reminds me quite a bit of Acceleration which was on last year's Rosie list. The author has the language and euphemisms of today's teenagers nailed down. One of the main characters, Herbie, is a tough nosed athlete trying to play football and run cross-country at the same time. This book would appeal to those fringe readers who sometimes find it hard to find a book that they'd enjoy reading...think guys...think guys who don't like to read.

One Mississippi by Mark Childress - Another Rival Reader selection that makes my recommendation list! I laughed out loud most of the way through this book, but was also rendered speechless by a few of the events along the way. I didn't grow up in the 70s, but could identify with many of the cultural references and descriptions along the way. Since the story starts out in Indiana, it hooked me from the start. When the setting shifted to Mississippi, it had me with the hilarity of it all, from the moving incident to the Frillingers and Prom Night.

The relationship between the two main characters is very compelling, and the author gives away just enough along the way to clue the reader in to the fact that whatever happens in the end is going to be big. He certainly does NOT dissappoint, either. You might be able to see the end coming, but how it unfolds will leave you with more questions than answers!