Looking for X

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for preteens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

“Mom used to be a stripper.” So begins Deborah Ellis’s novel about
11-year-old Khyber and her special relationship with her friend, X, a
homeless woman who is afraid of the secret police. When Khyber finds
herself wrongly accused of an act of vandalism at her school, her search
for the elusive X takes on a whole new sense of urgency.

At home, Khyber’s mother must make a difficult decision about the
welfare of her twin autistic sons. Placing the boys in a care home is
handled with grace and balance, and the ending of the book—Khyber and
her mother move closer to where the boys live—though convenient, is
entirely believable.

Ellis’s writing is tight and proficient. Her cast of characters is
delightfully quirky, and even the most bizarre personalities are
perfectly understated. The plot, which is primarily one of psychological
tension, has plenty of action, and the pacing is quick and entertaining.
The story has some serious social messages about poverty,
community-building, friendship, tolerance, and violence, but the author
manages to avoid becoming preachy or obvious about her intentions.
Highly recommended.