Nothing Bad is Going to Happen

Gr 10 Up—Kippy Bushman, the off-kilter heroine of No One Else Can Have You (HarperCollins, 2014), survived a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing killer only to limp, paranoia healthy, into a dangerous aftershock—someone again seems to be victimizing people in small town Friendship, WI. Through bizarre missives from incarcerated psychopath Ralph and Kippy's replies, which are somehow both perky and merciless, readers get something of a reminder of the prior book's meandering and self-consciously satirical events. Kippy looks forward to a first night of intimacy with boyfriend Davey on the night after her cast removal, sex notes and box of doughnuts ready to go. Instead, she finds Davey comatose from an aspirin overdose and what looks like an alcoholic relapse. Determined to prove malfeasance rather than a suicide attempt, Kippy begins taking notes about just who might be working as Ralph's pawn to harm her and those she loves. Former violence support group leader Rosa is now Kippy's dad's girlfriend, and her take on self-defense is one of the few comic elements that works. A lawyer and doctor involved in suing the institution featured in the first book help round out a cast of confounding caricatures. While satire and humor is often subjective, this is no sure-fire title to tickle maximum funny bone.