GUNS IN THE HEATHER

A wild, preposterous ""fling"" in the Highlands of Scotland--complete with grand old Scots, ruthless foreign agents, comical Scottish school lads, and a quick witted American with a top secret government job-- is carried off with a flourish by the author. The lively tale moves at a ripping pace, and the reader, held captive from first page to last, never questions the credibility of events. Mr. Amerman retains the naturalness of several Scottish dialects (in countless witty conversations) while making them comprehensible to an American audience. He makes extensive use of the misty backdrop of Scottish moors and mountains while carefully keeping track of a large cast of colorful characters. And, all told in the words of Posy Flower--son of the brilliant American-- the tale reaches a grand climax as the clans are called forth to battle at Inchdarroch castle. Tense adventure strengthened by humor and fine writing, it is the author's first for young people--hopefully not his last.