For Every Joy That Passes

Near the beginning of this tired story, the 13-year-old protagonist puts a request for cake mix on the family grocery list. Unfortunately, the cake isn't the only thing that feels as if it's been pre-measured: characters, conflicts and resolutions conform neatly and blandly to middle-grade formulas. Thirteen-year-old Becki Lang's most ardent dream is for her father and stepmother to divorce so that her father and mother can remarry. There's no question that Becki has had a lot to put up with since her stepmother, Sarah, has moved in--and brought her daycare center with her. Becki wavers between brattiness to Sarah and extreme helpfulness with the daycare children; Sarah, meanwhile, remains marvelously patient. Elderly neighbor Kathryn passes on bits of wisdom to Becki (""For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains""), but it is Kathryn's illness and the revelation that she has been going blind (even though she sees well enough to spot children lurking in her shrubbery) that awaken in Becki an appreciation for Sarah. Awkward sentences stretch to fit in details (e.g., the color of Becki's book bag, the type of dishwashing liquid she uses) that neither set the scene nor illuminate the characters in meaningful or interesting ways. Ages 10-14. (June)