BEING DANNY'S DOG

After a move from familiar Chicago to a rural development, T.R. starts to worry about his older brother, Danny. The only friend Danny's age is Paul, who barely controls his anger and appears to be a born troublemaker. Absurdly restrictive rules that the development's prim manager enforces are just the catalyst Paul needs to turn his anger into action, and T.R. makes it his job to protect Danny at all costs. Danny channels Paul's rage into a harmless—even witty—outlet, and Paul doesn't hesitate to do the right thing when his friends are implicated. It's refreshing to see a portrayal of brothers who get along most of the time, who not only care about each other, but don't trouble to hide it. All of the characters (except the manager) are likable, and the problems are fairly minor. Naylor (Alice the Brave, p. 473, etc.) gives middle graders a useful, pleasant read. (Fiction. 8-12)