Fitchett's Folly

Rodowsky deftly balances adventure, pathos and surprising comedy in a tale about early days on the New England coast. Sarey-Ann enjoys life with ""Aunt-Mama,'' her late mother's sister, a little brother and her own father, Captain Henry, keeper of the life-saving station. Captain Henry drowns one foggy night after rescuing a child named Faith, who is orphaned by the shipwreck. Aunt-Mama takes in Faith, whom Sarey-Ann blames for Captain Henry's death. Sarey-Ann schemes to get rid of Faith, and the novel hinges on these plots. An unhappy Faith slips out at midnight to look for the rumored ghost ship, and conscience-stricken, Sarey-Ann follows. The girls meet on Fitchett's Folly, dangerous boulders at the shore, where tensions run high before the story's uncontrived resolution abundantly satisfies the reader. Ages 812. (April)