MITCH AND AMY

It's twins this time at Mrs. Cleary's—nine years old and doing fine, thank you, after a slow start. When Mitch and Amy hit their stride, the air crackles. Mitch is a whiz at math and Amy is intimidated by the multiplication tables; Amy is in the top reading group and Mitch is still on Dr. Seuss. Mitch is good at games and Amy is good with her hands. Both of them feel "that being a twin (is) something special. Special but sometimes difficult." In the big crisis—the humiliation of the bully who has tormented Mitch and teased Amy—they share sympathy for the victim's shame. A nicely restrained understanding of childhood dilemmas permeates the wildest episodes. Amy conquers multiplication and Mitch advances to Wild Bill Hickok —a successful future seems assured.