Looking for X

July 1, 2000
Gr 6-8-Eleven-year-old Khyber lives with her mother and autistic twin brothers in a low-income area in Toronto. In addition to her problems at school (she skipped two grades and doesn't fit in), she deals with her mother's decision to send her brothers to a group home, some menacing skinheads, a false accusation of vandalism that gets her expelled, and a search for her homeless friend, "X." Khyber loves her family and gladly goes beyond what one would expect of a child in order to help her mother and "X." Her friends are an odd assortment of characters, all adults. There are just too many quirks and issues to make this book believable. Some aspects of the plot are far-fetched and everything falls into place just a little too neatly at the end. On the other hand, all of the characters seem real and natural. Khyber is a likable protagonist and readers will appreciate how she copes with her issues. If they can accept some of the improbable circumstances, they will enjoy the story.-Leslie Ann Lacika, Dingman-Delaware Middle School, Dingman's Ferry, PA

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2000
Gr. 6^-9. "I call myself Khyber after the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan," says the feisty 11-year-old protagonist of Ellis' fine first novel. Khyber fantasizes about visiting the Pass and other exotic places to escape the harsh realities of her life, including her odd-girl-out status at school. Living on public assistance with her single mom and five-year-old autistic twin brothers, Khyber retreats emotionally from others, trusting only a few adults, including a mysterious, homeless woman whom Khyber names X. Later, skinheads rough up Khyber and X, and at the same time, some school windows are broken. When Khyber is blamed for the vandalism, she must find X to corroborate the attack and provide an alibi. It would be easy for the book to drown in bleakness, but Khyber's strong spirit and believable personality will draw readers in and make them wonder about the characters' future adventures. ((Reviewed May 15, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)