What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read this book in the past couple of years, so I don't think it's that old.

It's from the viewpoint of a little girl (I think) that lives with her mom in a small neighborhood. A child gets kidnapped and killed one summer, and it's all the neighborhood talks about.

The mom starts seeing the neighbor guy and the girl doesn't like it. She ends up making up some story about the neighbor guy, saying he was inappropriate with her and gets him in a bunch of trouble.

Sound familiar?

Could it possibly be Shirley Jackson's Road Through the Wall? That's an older book, but it does focus on children and adults in a small neighborhood and there is a child death and suspicion cast on various people.

No, that's not it. I think it's more recent than that, at least written in the past 5 years. Thanks though

Is this an adult, ya, or children's book?

i'm pretty sure it's an adult book

The Bright Forever is about a child who goes missing and the neighborhood is in turmoil but I think it's told from multiple perspectives so it might not be a match.

no, not it either. the kidnapping was a small part of the book, it wasn't even a main character. but the main character kept referring back to it. I think she heard about it on the news and the neighbors were talking about it.

I remember that she could see into her neighbor's back yard, and she would spend some time studying it or spying on him, perhaps.

also, the neighbor guy might have been a teacher, and i think there was a part of the book where the girl was describing his bbq and his garden

I swear I *just* read this, you would think I'd remember it. I remember being SO disappointed that the girl was so stupid to make up the story about the neighbor guy.

Could it be History Lessons for Girls by Aurelie Sheehan? It's set in the 1970s and the main girl has scoliosis. There's a couple other books I read recently that it could be, but I think it's that one.

I read History Lessons for Girls last month, and that's not it. There wasn't a kidnapping in that book. It sounds like it might have some similar "neighborhood" elements, but the rest of the poster's description doesn't match.

no, not it. i know i haven't read that book, and the main character didn't have scoliosis. thanks for trying though!

i wish the library had a list of everything i've checked out, but no such luck

Erin, Most libraries deliberately do not keep more detailed records than necessary (books currently borrowed or on official reserve) in order to protect library patrons' privacy, which is something I really appreciate, even though seeing what the books we've borrowed & read over the years would be fascinating.

I know, and I should probably be happy that the libraries don't keep it, I just keep thinking of how cool it would be to have my lists from all the way back in the 80's when i was a little kid.

oh well!

My library system (Long Island) has this as an opt-in feature online. I authorized it but only use it rarely, because I've only been here a couple of years. Ten years from now, this will be useful! LOL

Might it be 'A Crime in the Neighbourhood' by Suzanne Berne? I haven't read it, but some of the details I heard about it seem to fit. It was published in 1999.

Rock on!! you found it!!! Sheesh, I can't believe I couldn't remember that title. And I did searches for "neighborhood." oh well...thanks so much!!