Take Back the Block

Ever since Mya switched schools, Kari has been having lunch with Wes and the others. Now, however, it is Kari’s last day because he and his family are moving in with his aunt. Wes still hopes that his parents will change their minds and allow Kari to live with them eventually. Wes feels like crying, but since Kari’s not crying, he holds his tears back.

Three weeks after Kari’s departure, Wes is excited for Halloween, which will hopefully take his mind off his current worries. Usually, Wes and his friends dress in group costumes and go to Mya’s affluent neighborhood to trick-or-treat, because people put up elaborate decorations and hand out full-size candy bars. However, this year, Wes, Jas, and Brent have not been invited to Mya’s, so they trick-or-treat around Kensington Oaks instead. The night is disappointing because many neighbors either aren’t home or aren’t participating, and unfamiliar police officers are patrolling the neighborhood, which makes Wes nervous after Kari’s experience.

Wes is feeling discouraged because Kari and Mya are both gone, Kensington Oaks is still at risk, Halloween was a bust, and he’s still missing a piece of his new superhero puzzle from