Some of the Kinder Planets

Ordinary moments take on a fresh veneer in this finely tuned short-story collection. Harriet, the heroine of the first entry, begins to map out a place for herself in the world at the very moment that her solar system model, a project for school, falls apart. A young man whose car breaks down wanders into a futuristic house and thinks he's being held aboard a flying saucer. Ghosts, mysterious illnesses and siblings who get lost in the same spot at different times all figure here. These protagonists patiently observe their own comings and goings, recognizing the absurdity of the adult world as it infringes on their lives. Deceptive in their simple structures, Wynne-Jones's nine stories reward repeat reading. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)