Dream Queens+castles

Diana Baldwin and her mother move to England for a year while Mrs. Baldwin teaches at a university. Lately Diana has felt alienated from her mother; the girl is angry because she is so absorbed in her career, while Mrs. Baldwin has little patience for her daughter's constant dreaming. Diana's latest fantasy is to meet the member of the royal family whose name she shares--Princess Diana. On her first day in England she encounters a strange old man who has dreams of his own. He, too, wishes to see Lady Di so that she can give him the medal he earned in the two World Wars. When Diana and the old man journey to London, she sees how powerful hope can be, and realizes that for some people, dreams are all they have. Diana has hopes and dreams, but understands that she also has a loving mother. Spanning only two days, Bauer's poignant tale crisply delineates each memorable character and conveys the complexities of this mother-daughter relationship. Ages 9-12. (Mar.)