The Midnight Diary of Zoya Blume by Laura Shaine Cunningham

This book is filled with mysteries: where did Zoya's mother go, and is she coming back? Who is Leon and what is his relationship with Zoya's mother? What is a Buka and why is Zoya so afraid of it? What is making the mysterious crying sounds in the basement of Zoya's building? Before Zoya's mother went away she gave Zoya a diary to write in, and she told her that she needs to write down her first memory. But what is Zoya's first memory? I thought the style of the book was a little stilted, but I still enjoyed reading it. It's a touching and unusual story. Review by Stacy Church