Ready, Set, Go!

Judging from its first installment, the premise of the Adventurers, Inc. series seems to be that, for girls, a passion for risky hobbies (white-water rafting, rock climbing, hot-air ballooning, etc.) is not incompatible with an overweening preoccupation with boys, makeup and clothes. Toni, this novel's narrator, is one of four girls who have won a local essay contest for incoming high school freshmen. Their prize is a summer of international travel, with British Columbia the first stop. After a whirlwind tour of Vancouver, the group heads for the back country. There Toni meets good-looking Paul, who has spent the past five summers helping his aging grandfather hunt for the family's long-lost gold mine. Motivated mostly by her crush on Paul, Toni convinces her friends to join the search. When Paul hurts himself exploring the mine shaft, Toni must brave the elements (and even sky-dive) to bring him help. Though the story is crammed with plenty of outdoorsy action, even the most ardent daredevils are likely to be put off by the pat, predictable plotting. Other stumbling blocks include tour guide-like descriptions (``The train follows the same route it did when it carried its original passengers-gold-hungry Californians!'') and thin characterizations (``Probably the only other thing in her pack was daddy's credit card!''). Ages 8-12. (Sept.)