Take a Chance, Gramps!

Every detail of this story falls ever so tidily into place as Janie searches for pointers on preadolescent popularity. After her best friend suddenly moves away, Janie is loath to enter junior high; in a rather pat parallel, her live-in, widowed grandfather has lost his ability to socialize. Mom packs the two of them off on a jaunt downtown, where they stumble into a seniors' dance. There Janie spies a boy her age escorting his grandmother. With some ingenious prodding by Janie, Gramps happily brings her to more dances and develops a cozy friendship with the grandmother. Meanwhile Gramps's advice on achieving popularity--to say hello to everyone at school, even strangers--is paying off despite a rocky beginning. Some predictable setbacks ensue, followed by a happy ending. Throughout Okimoto ( Jason's Women ) strives for a light, spontaneous tone, which, subjected to the artificially trim plot, emerges as forced and chirpy. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)