6-321

Laser's (The Rain) school-days yarn set in Queens, N.Y., during the 1960s may carry more relevance to the over-40 crowd than its target audience, but some poignant moments will hold the interest of teen readers. Those unfamiliar with the historical setting could grow restless tracing sixth-grade narrator Marc's numerous ups and downs. For instance, the narrative presumes that readers will understand the impact of Kennedy's assassination on the characters in lieu of delving deeply into Marc's and others' individual responses and actions; similarly, the disgrace caused by the separation of Marc's parents may be lost without a historical context. The author excels in portraying the more universal and accessible turning points in Marc's life, including his first infatuation with a girl (and her subsequent rejection of him, in one of the novel's best scenes, during a game of Scrabble), his run-ins with bullies from another class and Marc's initial fear of an intimidating teacher who, predictably, turns out to be his mentor. Laser balances an exploration of Marc's growing pains with humorous anecdotes. The book's leisurely pace and introspective nature demand patience, but encourage reflection. The reward for readers is a series of poetically crystallized moments as a boy on the brink of manhood becomes initiated into the larger world outside classroom 6-321. Ages 10-14. (Feb.)