Like Some Kind of Hero

In an attempt to be noticed by the girls, Ted makes up his mind to become a lifeguard--``We're going to be jocks . . . even if it kills us.'' He bites off more than he can chew, though, when he decides that, in addition to the lifeguard training class, he will spend his summer working a strenuous job and keeping up with his musical studies. Before the vacation is over, Ted has been ``fired'' by his music teacher, is in trouble on the job, is lying to his parents, has alienated his best friend and has lost his self-respect. The author of The Day That Elvis Came to Town and Eighty-Eight Steps to September brings this funny, bittersweet novel to a touching climax when her protagonist sacrifices certain success in his lifeguard qualifying exams for a chance to help a friend in dire trouble. This first-rate tale about growing up can hold its own nicely with the many popular chronicles of the genre. Ages 12-up. (Jan.)