ORANGE OCTOBER

Drop Jenny and best friend/new neighbor Matt back two grades and this unassuming rapprochement with a new teacher would be as plausible as it is pleasant--they just don't think or react or talk like fifth graders. Jenny starts off wrong with Miss Pillbrook, makes things worse by trying too hard to make amends, finally has to agree with Matt that she's all right especially after Miss Pillbrook refuses to be rattled by a dead mouse, loses her lacquered look in a smoke-filled classroom. Typical primary grade quandaries and an eager little girl some girls will know already (Jenny, 1966) assure acceptance by the third graders for whom this is styled; older girls will likely find the book, and Jenny, beneath them.