A harmless game of Nicky Nicky Nine Doors goes wrong in this addition to Orca Currents' novels for reluctant readers. Despite his misgivings, Emery allows his manipulative friend Richard to talk him into pranking people in his neighborhood: they ring and run, leaving a flaming bag of "stunt poo" (chocolate) on the doorstep. To add an air of legitimacy, they film themselves, documentary-style. The first two people who answer the door are hilarious beefy man in an apron, a hairy naked guy t Emery feels bad when one harried mother bursts into tears. The boys manage to avoid trouble when the cops are called, but they soon learn that pranking has unexpected consequences. Emery's first-person narrative sounds natural, and readers will relate to his wavering between enjoying the pranks and wishing he'd said no to Richard (and wondering why he couldn't). Unfortunately, the climax and resolution, involving a paranoid agoraphobic woman leaving her house to kidnap the teens, seems highly improbable.

Emery has misgivings about going along with Richard's practical jokes on the neighborhood, but "boredom's the reason lots of people get into trouble." How far will the two boys go to harass their neighbors? What exactly will the consequences be? When the story takes a bizarre turn, events liven up, though the lack of character development is a problem.

Gr 7 Up-When Emery and sometimes-friend (and full-time troublemaker) Richard play "Nicky Nicky Nine Doors," the age-old game of knocking on neighbors' doors and running away before being caught, they don't anticipate that the harmless prank can have lasting consequences. Richard suggests that they put flaming bags of "stunt poo" on the doorsteps and videotape the unsuspecting participants as they extinguish the flames. However, the game veers wildly out of control. When the boys are mugged and kidnapped, they realize that they are no longer in control of the game and that all the players aren't entirely what they seem. Realistic action and dialogue, along with a fast-paced plot, will keep reluctant readers turning pages. Savvier readers may be turned off by predictable characterization and an incredible plot twist at the end, but Doors is a solid hi/lo choice. H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL