Hoopi Shoopi Donna

For 14-year-old Donna Milewski, the only child of doting parents, the arrival, in the 1970s, from Poland of her underprivileged cousin is nothing less than tragic. Overnight, the entire Milewski household, stalwart members of the Polish community in a Connecticut industrial town, revolves around six-year-old Betty, a cross between Shirley Temple and the ""bad seed,"" who even usurps the time Mr. Milewski once spent listening to Donna practice her accordion. One day, when Donna is supposed to be baby-sitting, she sneaks off to meet a boy, and Betty follows. The illicit outing results in an accident that leaves Betty permanently crippled. Mr. Milewski blames Donna for Betty's injuries, and a rift causes the teenager to date a series of losers she knows her father hates. Finally, journalist Joseph Angelo reinvestigates the accident that made Betty a local celebrity and Donna a pariah. His findings give Donna a new lease on life, and a reason to forgive her father for not forgiving her. Shea (Selling the Lite of Heaven) has a strong narrative voice that is conversational and witty, although it sometimes rambles. A colorful background of Polish customs--especially descriptions of the accordion music so beloved by the community--provides authenticity and interest, but the narrative is often slowed by its frequent anecdotal digressions. Moreover, the conflict between father and daughter stems from a misunderstanding that seems contrived. The heroine's decision to form an all-girl polka band after her father's death adds a note of poignance, however, and readers will relate to the themes of guilt and expiation that underlie Donna's tale. Author tour. (May)