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literary is a Reading Adventure by Amber Gouley Through a Brief Darkness by Richard Peck Penguin Books. Canada, recommended for grades 6 to 9. softcover Through a Brief Darkness, by Richard Peck, is an exciting story about the daughter of a world famous criminal. Karen Beatty is an intelligent young girl, and she can't understand why people always avoid her. Then one day, in sixth grade, she finds this written on the wall of the school's bathroom: Andrea's daddy's a fireman Carmen's father's a cook Rachel's dad is a doctor But Karen's old man is a C R O O K . Karen hardly thinks anything of it hut when she is expelled from that school, she can't ignore it anymore. She refuses to believe that her father is a criminal but deep inside she knows it's true. She moves from boarding school to boarding school, until one day she is instructed to get her passport and a suitcase by an unknown woman who claims she works with Karen's father. The woman instructs Karen to get on a plane to London. England, where she is to meet long-lost cousins of her dead mother. A bomb scare threatens her plane and they must stop over in Ireland. They finally get back on the plane heading for London. When they arrive a nice looking couple greets Karen and they seem like a real family. But will Karen figure out that these "long-lost cousins" have a hidden agenda? I found this to be an exciting story, but be prepared because the first five chapters are quite boring. In the beginning the action is slow and the characters aren't well developed. But if you get through the first bit, you're in for a treat with the rest. You get to know Karen and the other characters better. The plot quickens and thickens as Karen finds holes in her "relatives'" stories. I rate Through a Brief Darkness eight out ten. a: Amber Gauley is a Grade from Seymour School. Heights 7 student Through a Brief Darkness elementary by Stuart Macauley F i n d i n gR e a d i n gP l e a s u r ew i t h The The Good family adopt her. The mother appreciates Henny cleaning all the silver and brass in the house, doing the mending and the ironing, and 101 other things. Mrs. Good even decides to take an Open University French course as she has more free time. Rowley, the youngest, likes Henny because she is the only one he can play croquet with and win. Eleanor and Rosie enjoy Henny reading to them as she reads well, with all the different voices. Bamey is working on a project about the Second World War and can ask Henny questions about the fighting and bombing blitz of London. Henny had lived in London during the War. Angela, as the eldest, appreciates Henny's many skills, particularly Henny's advice during Angela's first attempt at knitting a sweater. M r Good, who was reluctant in the beginning to keep Henny, especially as a sort of housemaid, becomes very fond of her. As a dentist, he even worked on Henny's teeth for free. The book was believable as well as a good read. A l l the chapters were very exciting and interesting. The characters come across as strong individuals, especially Rowley, the five year old. Rowley is funny and lovable. I would recommend this book to my friends because I enjoyed it enormously. The level of writing was fair to easy for grades four to six. I rate this book, with ten being the highest, a nine because it held my attention from beginning to end. The only thing that disturbed me was that there seemed to be so many dogs around the town of Saltmouth. Dick King-Smith is the author of some of the best modern children's classics. Read this one and you will want to read all his other books Stuart Macauley from Queensbury is a Grade 5 student Community School. The Stray by Dick King-Smith Penguin Books. Canada, recommended for grades 4 to 6, hardcover The book I am reviewing is titled Tlie Stray. The award-winning author Dick King-Smith was the author of Babe the Sheep-Pig, which was made into the movie Bahe. The Stray is about a lady called Henrietta Hickathrift, a 75 year old who runs away from the Old People's Home on her birthday. She decides to go to the beach. She takes the train to Saltmouth (somewhere in England), where five red-haired children take her in. The story follows the adventures of Henny (the name she prefers) and the Good family. Henny decides to run away from the Old People's Home because she is bored with the old people and the home. A l l the old people do is watch T V and argue over which channel to watch.