Getting Rid of Krista

Gillie, eight, cannot believe that her gorgeous older sister is living at home once more. Krista is called home from college when the sisters' father loses his job; now she jogs, does aerobics, showers three times a day and generally spends all her time preparing to be a Broadway star. Gillie figures that the sooner Krista is back in college, the better, and decides to earn the money herself through a dog-walking service she starts with her friend Hank. When they start walking the dog of a famous Broadway producer, readers will guess the endingthat Krista gets her chance. Despite her self-absorption, Krista is harmless, and provides no real reason for Gillie's desperate measures. There is a funny idea here, and a sweet atmosphereespecially in the friendship between Gillie and Hankthat hints at what this could have been without such convenient plot solutions. Ages 7-10. (April)