Rosie's Tiger

It's 1952, and Rosie, a sixth grader living with her widowed father in rural Oklahoma, worries about her adored older brother, Ronny, who's off fighting in Korea. When Rosie hears that he's on the way home, she's thrilled-until she learns about his Korean wife and her son. Huyani is sweet and pretty and Yong So is an adorable child, but Rosie feels jealous of Ronny's attention and worries that he will abandon her. She therefore solicits the help of her new best friend-who claims to be gifted with magical powers-to have Huyani and the boy returned to Korea. Myers (Red-Dirt Jessie) ably conveys time, place and character through Rosie's homespun narration. The story line is a little protracted and the ``magic'' of the best friend will be transparent to most in the target audience, but the portrait of Rosie is honest and convincing, the climax suspenseful and the resolution deeply gratifying. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)