Cooley, Beth. Ostrich eye.

Random House, Delacorte. 181 p. c2004. 0-385-73106-X. $15.95. J

Ginger is the narrator, a young teen who lives with her mother, her stepfather, and her younger half-sister, Vivian. She is hardworking, helpful, responsible--all good things. But she does yearn to know more about her biological father, and when a stranger comes to town, taking pictures, taking an interest in her and Vivian, she is convinced the man is her long-lost father. She suspends her better judgment, really, and jumps to the conclusion she wants. She has a friend, a boy named Nicholas, who becomes a romantic interest this eventful summer--he eventually helps out when their lives crumble into disaster.

The disaster is this: the stranger is not Ginger's father; he is a pedophile who wins their trust and then kidnaps Vivian. The police are involved in the search to find Vivian, but Ginger and Nicholas are crucial as well. Ginger is completely guilt-stricken because she knows it is her irresponsible encouragement of this stranger's attention that has put her little sister in such danger. There is a lot for all of them to recover from. The style of this novel, plus Ginger's honesty, will appeal to younger YAs who like mysteries and crime stories. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.