My Cousin's Keeper

Gr 4–6—Eleven-year-old Kieran is focused on several goals, including being popular and making the soccer team. But the appearance of his strange cousin, Bon, makes everything very challenging. Bon seems to be everywhere. He's on the playground at school, he's at their grandmother's house, and, eventually, he's sharing Kieran's bedroom when his mentally ill mother is no longer able to care for him. Since the boys are the same age, Kieran's family urges Kieran to look out for Bon, who is an easy target for bullies, with his long braid, his ragged clothes, and his notebook of maps and inventions. Kieran isn't willing to give up his shot at popularity by defending Bon, even after another new girl, Julia, urges him to put his family first. But once the bullying goes too far, Kieran realizes he has to do the right thing, even if it means risking it all. Narrator Todd Haberkorn does an excellent job capturing the boy's distain for his cousin. Although it sometimes feels like the story is a little drawn out, Haberkorn's distinctive character voicing ensures it's always clear who is speaking. Overall, this is a helpful book for jumpstarting discussions, and it will be a welcome addition to most middle grade collections.—Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA