cover image Wait and See: 9

Wait and See: 9

Virginia Bradley. Dutton Books, $14.99 (176pp) ISBN 978-0-525-65158-1

Bradley ( Bend to the Willow ) deftly twines together themes of friendship and loss in this well-observed novel. The only thing that distracts the narrator, an 11-year-old orphan named Amy, from the impending departure of her beloved housekeeper is the arrival in school of mysterious, platinum-haired Violetta Mills, whom Amy immediately dislikes (``The big thing was that she was all done up in white ruffles and pink bows. . . . This new person looked like she was ready for trick or treat or maybe a wedding''). Amy, however, gradually finds that she and the ``weird'' girl have a lot in common, and eventually she champions Violetta to the other sixth graders. But just as Amy is savoring the beginning of her first real friendship with another girl, Mrs. Mills yanks Violetta off to another town in her continuing wild-goose chase for the long-vanished Mr. Mills. In the story's only false note, Mrs. Mills returns, and her neurotic obsession is cured by letters from her employer and Amy's grandfather, the local judge. Otherwise, the narrative rings true in its sensitive exploration of a preadolescent's feelings and its affectionate depiction of small-town characters and customs. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)