Josie's Beau

Josie and Beau live in a two-family building, a flight of stairs apart, and their parents are friends. They've known each other most of their lives and Beau has confessed that he loved Josie in fourth gradefor awhile, anyway. But this is junior high, and Josie is suffering from what she considers an extraordinary lack of talent while Beau just wants a skateboard. He's plagued by a bully, and his mother will revoke her financial help for the skateboard because she thinks he's picking fights. So Josie lets him tell his mother that her own adolescent exuberance has led to aggressive behaviorthat Josie's hitting Beau. The plan backfires, but not before Josie has gained a little self-esteem from simple acts of independence from Beau. Honeycutt's book celebrates ordinariness; readers will enjoy this for Josie's sakebecause she's so realrather than for any message it has to offer. A Richard Jackson book. Ages 11-13. (October)