UNA AND THE HEAVEN BABY

by Prudence Andrew ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1975

Her mother is dead, the housekeeper indifferent, her only friend a nine-year-old boy, Lee, and now her father is going on vacation with a friend instead of with Una; No wonder she develops more than a passing interest in slovenly Mrs. Heaven's baby, who is fed tea or beer instead of milk and has bruises all over his back. Then when Lee's mother won't take Una, eleven, on their vacation and when Daddy's friend turns out to be a girl (you'll guess it long before Una does), Una ""rescues"" the Heaven baby, taking him to live in a vacant house and persuading Lee to participate. As happens often in such cases, it's easy to go along up until the over-iterated, over-happy ending, wherein the baby's bruises turn out to be birthmarks and his mother loving after all, Daddy is so distraught by Una's disappearance that his love is proven too, and even Daddy's girlfriend proves a sympathetic future stepmother. Still, Una's daydream may well be shared by many and the cheeky commentary of her toy bear Grubstreet, a sort of superego and voice of reason, helps keeps chins up throughout the adventure.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1975

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Nelson

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1975

Categories: FICTION