MYSTERY IN MIAMI BEACH

Brooding over her rabbi father's refusal to let her date a non-Jew, Vivi flies from her home in Buffalo to her grandmother's condo in Miami Beach and is embroiled in events culminating in the arrest of a Nazi war criminal who's been stalking, and being stalked by, Gram's circle of friends and fellow survivors. Though the narration has some rough spots typical of the genre (e.g., Vivi and her new friend ``Mike''—Micah—are far too bright to be confused by the old notion of thinking in black and white), and Feder depends a lot on coincidence and unlikely circumstances (especially Vivi's central role), she does weave a great many themes into a satisfying, neatly resolved plot. The role of Jewish women in traditional homes; the tragedy of a Nazi ship carrying Jewish refugees who were not allowed to land in Miami and had to return to Europe; vital friendships between Jews and gentiles; espionage, undercover agents, concealed identities, and a mild romance—it's almost too much to take in, but, overall, the serious concerns are well integrated with the adventure. Apparently, Feder's first novel for young people: ambitious, but creditable. (Fiction. 10-14)