WALKING THROUGH THE DARK

In her preoccupation with the high school social life and college career to come, Ruth Wheeler is the epitome of self-centered adolescence. And the shock when the smelly poverty of her mother's former cleaning woman Annie Scoates threatens to invade Ruth's own family soon gives way to grim fascination as the Wheelers slide step by step into the Depression—no Saturday movies, no new school clothes, nagging after-meal hunger and, finally, the day Ruth recognizes Annie Scoates' toothless face as "her mother ten years hence." Ruth's admittedly superficial apperception is a limiting factor here, but as far as it goes her experience is truthful enough to have some sting. And those who can empathize with her seemingly invincible sense of security at the beginning will be carried along despite Naylor's affectless management of the supporting cast.