BRIGHT CHILD--POOR GRADES

Anywhere from 15 to 40% of all school children are underachievers."" This book has as its primary concern the emotionally conflicted child who works inefficiently. The Bricklins go into the psychological causes of underachievement and make positive recommendations for dealing with the problem. They unmask the passive-aggressive child, the child with a low frustration level, the regressive child. Like the superior achiever, the underachiever is concerned with failure, may feel more at home with it than success, prefers to be different rather than mediocre. The Bricklins' book is more professionally oriented than Fine's Underachievers (see p. 1167), will be read by professionals before parents. Both books leave room for a more intensive, exhaustive and popular treatment.