Smoke by Mavis Jukes
It's been just Colton and his mom for a long time. His dad is a professional rodeo cowboy so Colton doesn't see him often. When his mom decides to move them from Idaho to California Colton isn't sure, but California turns out to be ok. Moving is easier with Smoke, his twenty pound main coon cat. His dad gave him Smoke when he was two and the cat is his connection to his dad. But when Smoke goes missing in California Colton is distraught.
Jukes writes a solid boy story. Part ghost stories, part learning how to be a man, but mostly just a story about family and friends. Boys can relate to Colton, he isn't a strong reader and needs extra help. He's not good at soccer but he's willing to learn. And the palatable suspense will keep readers anxious to discover what happened to Smoke.
Scores: 3.5 out of 5
To suggest other titles to the committee, please email newberysuggestions@kcls.org.
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