Colder Than Ice (Albert Whitman Prairie Books)
Gr. 4-6. When Josh Showalter, a self-described "okay student, okay athlete, kind of overweight but okay looking" sixth-grader, starts at a new school, he is pleasantly surprised by flattery and friendly overtures from seventh-grade hotshot Corey Kitchens. Another new student, a girl named Skye, who is frequently bullied by Corey because of her great soccer skills, warns Josh that Corey must have an ulterior motive. She suspects that Corey, a star basketball player, has befriended Josh because Josh's dad is a coach at the high school. In fact, Corey's interest in Josh is much more sinister, as is revealed in a dramatic, heart-pounding scene that will stay with readers long after they put down the novel. A sensitively handled subplot about an autistic classmate gives more depth to this thought-provoking story.Lauren PetersonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theSchool & Library Bindingedition.