A beautifully written book by Diane Les Becquets, The Stones of Mourning Creek is a worthwhile read for people of any age. It's written for a teen audience, but older children and adults could easily enjoy this book as well. On a hot summer day just two months after the death of her mother, Francie is walking along the creek's edge when a cottonmouth bites her ankle. She yells for help as the poison spreads through her body, knowing that there is no one around to hear her on the lonely creek. She awakes to find herself in the the home of a caring black family and soon becomes close friends with the daughter, Ruthie. Francie soon learns how strongly rascism and prejudice run in her small Alabama town and how much power one horrible man can have over the county. Perhaps friendship is the most powerful thing in this story though. As Francie and Ruthie grow closer, they discover that they both have deep pain inside them, and unravel a mystery that haunts them both. ( )