What Are We Going to Do about David?

Since David's father is going to be on the road this summer, and his mother will be working in Hawaii, David is sent to his grandmother's. The 11-year-old can't imagine staying with her--``it would be like going to live with a stranger''--in a dreary town on the Washington coast. Even though his parents have been fighting, he misses them. Before long, though, the boy grows to love his grandmother and the countryside, and it will come as no surprise to readers that when David's parents return for him, his grandmother fiercely defends the boy and wants to keep him with her. Though somewhat lacking in humor and characterization, David's affecting story represents the plight of many children of troubled families. The boy's quandaries are credibly presented; his tale may prove inviting primarily to those readers who prefer contemporary family life distilled into black and white, with heroes and villains clearly delineated. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)