LOUISA ECLIPSED

When Louisa makes her annual visit to her grandfather, she finds everything changing--from the real-estate development around his farm to her ascendancy over her younger sister, Meg. Louisa is accustomed to having things go her way: good grades have come easily, as have the admiration of her peers and her domination of Meg. But this summer--with her family moving to a new town--she suddenly finds Meg competent and useful to their grandfather, while she herself is the constant target of censure from her aunt. Worse, Meg wins the affection of a neighbor boy to whom Louisa feels attracted; but--through these tribulations--Louisa does come to a more balanced and rounded view of herself and her place within her family. With a rather unappealing heroine, this mediocre adolescent novel is not likely to make many waves.