THOSE DARN DITHERS
by Sid Hite
Return to whimsical Willow County in this charming sequel to Dither Farm (1992). Readers who haven't yet met the Dither family will be delighted to make the acquaintance of witty, warm, nine- year-old Archibald, absent-minded philosopher Uncle Leopold, operatic baby Angeline—the cast of characters is larger than life and entirely lovable. Although the last adventure focused on Archibald's kidnapping, Hite opts for a gentler tale of how the various Dithers spend their summer. Uncle Leopold suffers a crisis of confidence about his tome, The Comprehensive Guide, while his wife designs and builds an astral projection device. Archibald struggles to help his adult friend, Carl, shrug off a depression, while his older brother Emmett and friend Warren create vaudeville acts, and sister Holly breaks into show business riding horseback. Everyone heads off in separate directions, and all come neatly together in a spark of magical realism. Younger teens will appreciate the quirky adventures, while older ones will enjoy the deft comic spirit that informs the entire work. Hilarious. (Fiction. 12+)