The Dandelion Garden

In her latest volume of stories of self-discovery, Wilson (The Leaving) once again demonstrates a profound understanding of humanity, delving into the psyches of 10 characters ranging in age from seven to 76. While most of her narrators' voices are markedly Canadian, the protagonists' experiences remain universal: an angry parent finds himself repeating his father's mistakes; a child suffers keen disappointment when no one appreciates his garden of dandelions; an undersize teen wtih big ambitions learns to accept his imperfections. Finding moments of reckoning in everyday situations, the author encapsulates the drama of ordinary existence. Her terse, ironic narratives are layered with meaning. Ages 10-14. (May)