UNCLE ANDY'S ISLAND

Mischief-making Mark Reynolds attempts a character- renovation when his Uncle Andy, a war hero, promises to take a well behaved boy with him to set up weirs on his island near the Maine coastal town where Mark lives. Through attempts to reform and to help his friend Murder, Mark is involved in a series of mishaps. The story is slight with a mild Tom Sawyer slant, but the information about lobstering, herring runs, seals and boats and the feel of the salt air of the Maine coast make this a delightful book. The dialogue is atmospheric, too, with plenty of ""ayuh's"" and ""don't mind if I do's"".