THE TOUCH-AND-GO YEAR

by Margaret Potter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 1969

It's touch-and-go for the buoyant Sinclairs--Jonathan, Jocelyn, and James (called Podge), spending the year with a young aunt and uncle while their mother, just-widowed, goes away for teacher-training. Twelve, eleven, and seven respectively, the British children find ways to penetrate the strangeness of a new school: Jonathan's weak academically but super from the first on the tennis court; Jocelyn's practically a genius in math, so she flourishes at well-equipped Greenfields; and Podge, who outgrows the pet hame by the end, befriends an old invalid lady for real (not for candy) and starts writing stories about her. The ""Three Jays'"" joint doings in treehouse and garden comprise the first part of the book, and thereafter the emphasis shifts to tennis--Jonathan's daily practice, junior membership at the Club (won by preventing a burglary in the nick of), participation in the tournament and finally a scholarship offer. It's pat but not flat, in fact bouncy and likable, with some nice surprises to look forward to at the end of a year that goes too fast.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Meredith

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION