A WIND ON THE ROAD

angly, olive-skinned and dark-haired, ten year old Esther was regarded as sort of tomboyish oddball by her blonde, blue-eyed sisters: Eleanor, 14, and Florence, 16. The older sisters only float, flutter and primp, vaguely in the back round; it is Esther who finds the rugged life of western Oregon in accord with her approach to the world. However, she becomes increasingly sensitive to comments of sisters, father and mother; she knows she does not fit neatly into the family, and so skips off in darkness to join a camp of gypsies. Realistically she goes happily home the next day, but remains friends with Marya, a gypsy girl her own age. Intrigue and suspense follow when Marya's father is accused of thievery; all band together to clear his name-- successfully. The fairly realistic picture of gypsy life plus the character sketches of Esther, Marya, and Ira Hemphill, formerly E.'s arch-enemy, will make the tale pleasant, if not exceptional reading for young girls-- and possibly boys-- with unexpected bits of humor along the trail.