I have to admit, there were times I laughed out loud while I was reading
Dead End in Norvelt. Jack, the main character, is one of the wimpiest boys I have run across in a book. His nose bleeds whenever he gets frightened or excited -- and his nose bleeds a lot during the course of the story! He is caught in a feud between his mother and his father and winds up grounded for most of the summer, except for when he helps his arthritic neighbor write obituaries. Mysterious deaths, fires, and history all combine in this engaging book. I really liked it!
