THE NIGHT THE WHOLE CLASS SLEPT OVER

Dan's idealistic mother and father—an artist and a teacher- -have always searched for the perfect place to raise their children. With baby sister Martha, Dan has endured moves all over the country. But now he gets his chance to settle down when the family stops over at his maternal grandparents' home; while his parents go cabin-hunting, Dan contrives to get himself enrolled in school and to meet other sixth graders. Acquaintance with some eccentric classmates, an outbreak of the measles, and a sleepover at the local library—all eventually result in Dan and his family becoming permanent members of the community. Dan's mother—shown as well-intentioned but fallible—is among the commendable characterizations here; Dan as a solid citizen who shows more maturity than his own parents is another. Still, it all boils down to a basic school story,with an intrigue about a classmate thrown in for good measure and the ending nearly a foregone conclusion. (Fiction. 9-13)*justify no*