The Badger and the Peacock

In The Badger and the Peacock, a spoiled rich girl finds an unlikely hero - and her personal savior - in a homeless man named Badger when a serial killer bears down on New York City.
New York City, present day. Police, crime lords, and authorities cower in fear at the tyrannical reign of the world's worst serial killer - The Skinner. Without so much as a wisp of threat against him, The Skinner revels in making the Big Apple his playland.
When The Skinner sets his sights on Vicki, the real story begins. Young, rich, and snobbish beyond reproach, Vicki refuses to die by the hands of a serial killer. Unwilling to turn over her existence so easily to the walking reaper, Vicki employs the help of an unexpected partner, Badger, to keep her alive.
Badger and his band of homeless friends Otter, Cat, and Wolf agree to shelter Vicki on the streets to keep her safe from The Skinner. Despite the strangers' kindness, Badger and Vicki vehemently butt heads at first. Still, amid a few hard-learned lessons and close calls, Vicki remains safe under the wing of Badger and his streetwise friends.
When Skinner starts to close in, it is up to Badger to use his brawn and his extensive war knowledge to defeat the criminal in what some would call "The Battle of the New York Titans!"
A must-read for fans of Brian Jacques and Vivian Vande Veld, The Badger and the Peacock is a unique, thrilling YA read for those who love adventure, unlikely heroes, and a novel that hinges on human nature.