Orp

Orville Rudemeyer Pygenski Junior, also known Orvie or Orp, hates his name. While working on a summer project, he decides to start an ``I Hate My Name Club.'' He promptly recruits his sister as secretary, and his best friend Derrick, whose middle name is Vivian, unexpectedly joins too. They advertise for new members in the local paper; when Derrick, in charge of that task, neglects to mention that the club is for kids eight- to 12-years-old, the best laid plans of the I-Hate-My-Name-ers go humorously awry. Kline, known for the funny, perceptive Herbie Jones books, once again demonstrates her ability to capture the idiosyncrasies and observations unique to school-age children. Orp, like Herbie, possesses a naive joie de vivre and an ability to get himself into the most amazing scrapes. But Kline has failed to endow Orp with enough of his own personality--he bears an unmistakable likeness to Herbie. Despite this, the plot moves along quickly, and Orp's predicaments will invite compassion and elicit laughter. Ages 8-12. (May)