Death Benefits

Gr 8 Up—Royce, 16, hardly knows his 95-year-old grandfather, a world-renowned cellist and general grump. But when his mother offers him $15 an hour to be Arthur's caregiver—way more than he'd make flipping burgers—he jumps at the opportunity. Royce gets a kick out of Arthur's eccentricities, which include wearing Pumas to a special event and listening to the Pussycat Dolls. The two begin to bond in a way neither expected, but after several strokes, Arthur's health deteriorates rapidly and he asks Royce to help him die. Unfortunately, while Royce's voice is strong, it is not enough to carry the predictable plot or endear readers to him. It is surprisingly brash in contrast to the subject matter. A romantic subplot remains underdeveloped and the minor characters are two-dimensional. Louis Sachar's hilarious and moving The Cardturner (Delacorte, 2010) is a much stronger choice.—Jennifer Barnes, Gleason Public Library, Carlisle, MA