THE AFFAIR OF THE ROCKERBYE BABY

by Antonia Barber ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 1970

As Richard the narrator, fourteen, avers--""You have to admit it makes a much snappier title than 'The Kidnapping of Howard J. Rockerbye, Jr.'"" who isn't a baby at all but a spoiled brat of seven. Well this isn't snappy at all or sophisticated NY sleuthing, or even the spoofing the title projects: besides being larger-than-life it's misguidedly small-minded. Three British children on holiday scour the city from tenements to warehouses to recover a bank magnate's son, with the help of the Hidden Eyes of Harlem-met through ""a Negro boy"" Link, best friend of the visitors' cousin Lee (of posh East 84th Street). The Eyes sort out gossip of bums and cab drivers while shoe-shining down at the Battery, and report in a patchwork of ain'ts and man's (like the ""Why sure honey"" of a smiling Negro woman on a bus). Rockerbye Sr. rewards them with a vacation in the mountains ""where members who couldn't afford holidays could go to swim and ride. . . and enjoy the clean air""; the Britishers accompany him on a trip across country--after all, Richard's been Rockerbye's sole confidant in the merger-struggle behind the Affair. Which among other things could be called patronizing. . . .

Pub Date: June 30, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1970

Categories: FICTION