Cricket Books Young Adult (Hardcover), ISBN 0-8126-2890-X
Like John Reilly's Daughter, Kezi Matthews' first novel, Scorpio's Child portrays the damaging effects of loss upon an adolescent girl. Yet, this time, the stakes become higher and the relationships more complex. Memphis, the protagonist in John Reilly's Daughter suffers the physical and emotional absence of parents and must learn to live with her grandmother. In Scorpio's Child, Afton struggles not only with an absent father, but also an inaccessible mother, family secrets and the sudden appearance of a strange uncle, all following the death of her beloved brother.

Suspicion and resentment color Afton's initial response to Bailey, her mother's twin. Blessed (or cursed) with the Scorpio personality traits of resistance to change, intelligence, stubbornness, intuitiveness and persistence, Afton fails to simply accept her uncle at her mother's insistence. She realizes that there is much more to Uncle Bailey than meets the eye, and Afton cannot dismiss her concerns about the situation. The fact that Afton's mother pleads with her not to disclose Bailey's presence to her father only serves to confirm her unease.

True to the star sign, Afton cannot rest until she gets to the bottom of the relationship between her mother and uncle. In the process of uncovering the ghosts of the past, Afton comes to terms with herself and her family, and clears the way for a less crowded future.

Told from the perceptive Afton's point of view, Scorpio's Child provides outstanding insight into a dysfunctional family and lots of food for thought. One cannot help but be affected by the circumstances and tragic persons surrounding young Afton's life. A desire to solve the mystery of Afton's uncle and the search for healing -- rather than a promise of entertainment -- propels the story forward.

Matthews excels in the careful un-layering of pretense, plot and personality. Her prose proves to be simple, eloquent and enlightening but somber. Certainly a worthwhile and well-written story, Scorpio's Child should not be missed, but you may just want to save it for a day when your moon is in Scorpio.

Lynne Remick

Lynne Marie Pisano is a freelance writer, poet, book reviewer, SCBWI Metro New York LI Critique Group Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Long Island Children's Writers and Illustrators. She lives in New York with her husband Michael, her son Kevin and a daughter named Kayla, and Dante, a Schipperke.

Click here to share your views.