NELSON MALONE MEETS THE MAN FROM MUSH-NUT

Nelson happily discovers that the counselors at boring old Camp Starbright for Boys are aliens, intent on kidnapping young humans for study; he is hardly surprised, however, since this is only the latest in a succession of wonderful events. Nelson fits perfectly into a world gone askew; his piano teacher turns out to be an apprentice witch, his new sneakers (as promised by a great basketball star) really do make him a wizard on the court, and he proves that he's a wizard at home by combining a Mr. Math calculator and his sister's discarded Baby-Drinks-All-Day into a high powered database. He even gets to be on TV, almost, hawking his beloved Mush. Nut Bar--""The only peanut bar with a chewy mushroom center""--though a sudden allergic reaction dashes his hopes of stardom. Hawes relates Nelson's many adventures in a breezy, conversational style, full of snappy dialogue and one-liners. Not important, but likely to be popular.