THE WHISTLING WINDS

Tension, trouble and excitement characterize the Hawaii of the whaleboat-missionary days. Thrown into the disordered realm, seventeen year old Ned finds it difficult to fit into the strange life of the natives. Ned becomes a good friend of Mr. MacIntosh, the missionary in Lahana, and comes to his defense when his fellow-whalers threaten the man's life. The story is over planned-- too much like a finely notched puzzle, and there are too many characters who have important roles, which leads to confusion. Despite these flaws, though, the view of the Pacific paradise is convincing and dramatic. An ""okay"" book, not up to the author's The Road to the Valley (1961, p. 110, J-78).