Palmers Gate — Barry Varela

Set in a small working-class town near the South Jersey shore, Palmers Gate describes 11-year-old Robby Cleff's attempts to understand and befriend the classmate who lives next door. Colleen Gardner is a childlike, virtually silent girl who may or may not be hiding a chilling secret. Sparely written but emotionally charged, the story builds to a powerful, indeed incendiary climax.