Whatever Became of Aunt

The premise of this bland SF tale is that David's Aunt Margaret has been taken over by a friendly being from another dimension. This benevolent possession has extended the elderly woman's life and has, supposedly, left her with her own personality intact--although her characterization is so insipid it's hard to tell. Now Mrs. Gaumer, founder of the local animal shelter, is on the brink of death. The spirit that occupies Aunt Margaret wants to take over Mrs. Gaumer so that she can continue her good works. When jealous aliens interfere with this plan, Aunt Margaret enlists the help of David and his twin sister, Julie. Lackluster writing, laced with references to movies and television shows, does little to support this rickety plot. To succeed, fantasy must be in some way rooted in real life; the novel fails because the characters seem to have no lives apart from their participation in a lumpish supernatural melodrama. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)