GREENSLEEVES

The eighteenth summer of Shannon Lightley, world traveler and scion of celebrities, who finds berself by disappearing behind the chewing gum and blue eye shadow of one imaginary Georgette Einszweiler Smith, late of Morton Center, Idaho. Meanwhile sleuthing the circumstances of Mrs. Elizabeth Dunningham's odd will for Uncle Frosty (Charles Frost, ex-officio parent and Portland lawyer) who's been hired to challenge it. She rents Mrs. Dunningham's old room to spy on the other boarders, all beneficiaries, takes a job in a local luncheonette owned by another, becomes Greensleeves (after the color of her uniform) to Sherry, a college boy who's almighty curious and also a prospective heir. Everybody likes Greensleeves, especially Sherry, and she likes everybody, wants what Mrs. Dunningham wanted for them; but Uncle Frosty can't quash the suit and, notified that Mrs. D. had a daughter, they all relinquish their claims. Willingly, ""People have to open their own cages before they're actually free,"" explains her boss Mr. Blue. Greensleeves too; tired; of Georgette, unsure of Shannon, disturbed by her strong attraction to contemptuous Dave, determined that Sherry experience Oxford and the world before settling down, convinced finally that she can navigate an American college, she say au revoir but not adieu. Allowing for the outre circumstances, Shannon is consistent and not unlikable, and the book is lithe entertainment with a few firmer insights.