THE JUDGE'S DAUGHTERS

The judge's daughters are actually stepsisters, Tola, who tells the story, and Taffy, the more attractive version of the two, but they have been overly attached to each other through the years. Now as they are about to be separated (college ahead) -- this deals with a touchier time: Tola's preoccupation with the fact of her ancestry (she's one eighth Thai) and her notion that Taffy is being snobbish about it; and Taffy's resentment which is not one of prejudice, but of exclusion. Then there are intimations of another kind of discrimination (the underprivileged versus the judges' daughters who have been protected -- ""all the snugness and the smugness of that warm cocoon""). All of this is landscaped against a dance, a school theatrical, a picnic, etc. and thoughts of romance.... The story itself lacks definition but it is pleasantly told, in the hush of nostalgia which girls, gentle girls, will like. The points made are valid and contemporary but it's still not as good as Zenty (1964-p. 556-J176) although better than many in the genre.