Chapter 29
Alistair rifled through a bin of yellowed discount paperbacks on the sweltering sidewalk outside Walter’s Variety Bookstore. The covers didn’t matter. Neither did the contents. She wasn’t looking for prized books. She just wanted to find the cheapest ones with the most pages.
The school year had finally ended, and Alistair’s summer plans consisted of reading, working on her papercraft objects, being dragged to the beach by Aunt Kath and Uncle Gus, and hours of bike riding with Zev along the griddle-hot sidewalks of Ozone Park.
Sweat pooled where Alistair’s backpack made contact with her T-shirt as she moved on to the next bin in line, hoisting herself in, digging straight to the bottom.
“Alistair!” Someone yelled.
Alistair popped her head out of the bin, her mess of wavy, u
