SUMMER LANDMARK

The little things of major import, in a child's landscape of a short, summer interlude on an Iowa farm, this has a discerning prose that adds validity to the unexceptional incidents. Joe Morgan, of Welsh heritage, visits an uncle, meets his great-grandmother and great-aunt, watches a cousin water-witching, goes to a carnival, sees a local boy bested in a prize fight, meets old and young relations, resents the wisdom of the hired man, gets a puppy from a litter, observes -- but does not comprehend -- the social implications of his uncle's laundress and her wayward sister.....When the hired man, because of his fits, is institutionalized as incurable -- Joe is sent home. Hanging on these inconclusive events is the quality and sad wonder of a child, of the feel and smell and touch of an Iowa farm, of the first person recall of reminiscence, of roots, heritage, permanent markers. Specialty reading rather than wide audience appeal.