Texting the Underworld. 320p

When an attractive young banshee moves into his closet, predicting an upcoming death, anxiety-prone Conor is convinced that she's come for his beloved grandfather. To save Grump, Conor travels to the underworld, where he must face his greatest fears. Complex characters, a moving story line centered on family and courage, and plenty of exciting moments make this an appealing read.

Twelve-year-old Conor O'Neill is a worrier. For him, the world is a "lethal and unpredictable place" filled with spiders that might fall onto him while he sleeps, the possibility of choking if he doesn't chew every bite fifteen times, and other terrifying things. With preoccupied parents and a scoffing younger sister, it is his lively grandfather, Grump, with his encyclopedic knowledge of Irish lore, who understands Conor best. When an attractive young banshee shows up and moves into his closet, explaining that she is there for an upcoming death, Conor's anxiety skyrockets. He starts wearing his bike helmet to school, calls his family every moment he can to check that they're all still alive, and soon becomes convinced that the life about to end is Grump's. Meanwhile, banshee Ashling has become intrigued with modern culture and heads off to Conor's middle school, with amusing results. Learning that there might be a way to save his grandfather, Conor travels with his sister and Grump to the underworld, where he must face the thing he's most afraid of (spiders, of course) and where his cell phone factors into the challenge (hence the book's title). Complex characters, a moving story line centered on family and courage, and plenty of exciting moments make this an appealing read for those fans of tales mixing traditional folklore with contemporary life. monica edinger