Thirteenth Summer

Hard-working, good-natured, red-haired Pink has always been happy living year-round on Plymouth Island, a summer resort. His dad expects Pink to take over the family's boatyard eventually, just as he had from his own father. But Pink is 13 and beginning to question things. Deep down, he wants to attend the expensive off-island prep school which he knows the family cannot afford. An independent sequel to The Fair-Weather Friends, this predictable story of self-discovery and friendship lacks strong characterization. The dialogue is stiff-sounding and the important plot element of Dad's boyhood friend controlling scholarship funds strains credibility. An ordinary ""haves'' vs. ``have-nots'' story. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 10-12. (September)