THE MOONLIGHT MAN

A sensitive portrayal of a 15-year-old girl's relationship with her alcoholic father. The Moonlight Man, Catherine's father, is a romantic whose life is ruled by his emotions, an author of travel books who refuses to write about his favorite country. Catherine is on vacation from her Montreal boarding school. Her mother is on a honeymoon in England with her new husband. Catherine's parents divorced when she was very young; she has never spent more than a few days at a time with her father, whom she idolizes. The time they spend in Nova Scotia teaches Catherine about his weaknesses, especially his drinking. Although hard-pressed by having to cope with his irresponsibility and erratic behavior, Catherine comes to terms with her father and learns to accept both parents and the decisions they have made in their lives. Stunningly written (as expected from this fine writer, whose The Slave Dancer won the 1974 Newbery Award), this is a convincing evocation of a young girl's growing up. The characters are likable, their situations realistic. Catherine's acceptance of her father grows credibly out of her blind love and adoration.