BIRD IN HAND

A very uneven book. Dramatically sprawling, dotted with good incident and description, this has too adult an atmosphere of tension and emotion. An inbred Maine fishing hemlet provides good regional material, excellent detail on lobstering, fishing, commercial huckleberrying. The story level -- baseball, grade school, and big oaf bully -- is no older than twelve; the language level is older. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the book has that restrained, puritan air of flagellants and per-.