The Fresh Air Kid

Sponsored by the Fresh Air Fund, 14-year-old Leigh leaves her Bronx home to spend two weeks with the Bensons, a wealthy Long Island family. Not only has Leigh never seen such lush trees and bright stars before, but everything about the Bensons' life is different from hers. Mr. and Mrs. Benson are very kind, and the two younger children befriend Leigh almost immediately. However, she and Cindy, also 14, do not get along. Cindy and her friends constantly giggle about boys, while Leigh would rather play basketball or ``hang out'' with the guys than ogle them. She is eager to go home after her visit, but once there, she realizes she has grown to care about the Bensons. She also learns that very different people can still become friends. Although the novel's first half reads like a TV sitcom script, the story gains credibility as Leigh's relationship with the Bensons develops. Roux-Lough succinctly and poignantly juxtaposes the lives of two teenagers growing up in very different environments. Ages 10-14. (Oct.)