Fran Ellen's House

The Bears' House, published 15 years ago, proved that Sachs was a first-rate storyteller. And now the accomplished novelist has done it again. The story of Fran Ellen's gradual assembly of her family's piecesgiving up beloved baby Flora to a foster parents, unintentionally bringing her family into the rebuilding of the bears' houseis deeply touching; the sequel is just as briskly engaging as the original. This time, the bears' house is not her refuge, but the place where her little sister Felice's imagination takes hold. Fran Ellen is ready not only to pass on that legacy but becomes an independent, curious child who simply must participate in what life offers her. The book's one drawback is that to be fully appreciated, it must be read in conjunction with the first heartbreaking story. Any thoughtful reader will embrace that task and witness a family torn apart healing itself. Ages 9-12. (October)