Lampfish of Twill

Marked by the same surreal quality found in Lisle's Afternoon of the Elves , this enchanting tale is set in an imaginary coastal town repeatedly deluged by terrible storms. The hero, Eric, is a boy who seeks a lampfish--a rare, elusive creature whose bones provide fishhooks for residents of the village. During the course of the book, an ancient, half-crazed seaman named Cantrip teaches Eric to view both the lampfish and the world in a new light by leading the boy on an incredible journey to a land beneath the ocean where time and motion are nonexistent. As in the author's previous works, the theme that truth lies in the eye of the beholder is poetically conveyed throughout. Halperin's atmospheric, multi-paneled illustrations amplify the novel's eerie tone and match the eloquence of the text. Readers who fancy such classics as A Wrinkle in Time and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will treasure this story as it tickles the imagination and challenges preconceived notions about reality and illusion. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)