Nancy Werlin, a writer with three novels to her credit, has earned a reputation for tackling difficult subjects in a sensitive and engaging way. In the process, she has carved out a niche for herself in the demanding world of young adult fiction. Werlin's 1994 debut novel, Are You Alone on Purpose", explored with sensitivity and insight the effects of autism on a family, a subject which she knows from personal experience. As interviewer Kit Alderdice noted in a 1994 Publishers Weekly profile of Werlin, "[she] touches on subjects not usually tackled in the YA realm," and does so "with rich, layered characterizations and believable situations." Alderdice subsequently noted that Werlin's second novel, a thriller entitled The Killer's Cousin, dealt with another delicate subject that is not often dealt with by young adult authors--teen homicide. The Killer's Cousin won Werlin many awards, including the prestigious Edgar for Best YA Mystery...