I read Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.  It took a few chapters to really get into the book.  A pre-teen boy is grounded for the summer.  Interestingly enough, the author named the main character after himself!  Jack's mother loans him out to a neighbor, Miss Volker, a feisty old lady who writes obituaries for the local newspaper.  Jack reluctantly serves as her scribe and eventually becomes her friend.  A mystery develops when all the old women in the small town begin dying at an alarming rate.  The ending has a cute twist.  Dead End in Norvelt will definitely appeal to young boys because of the main character and his interests and thoughts.  However, girls will probably enjoy the book also.  I don't know that I would read this book to my entire class (it is for 5th grade and up), but would have no problem recommending it to students.