Sparrows Flight

Shy, clumsy Julie, 16, would rather cast herself as the heroine of her fantasies, modeled after the sword-and-sorcery novels she devours, than face up to real life and its problems. She is friendless at her new school until she meets ``Darkmoon,'' the Chieftess of the Clan, a group of fellow fantasy buffs. Thrilled to find she fits in with the group, Julie starts cutting classes and lets her grades slip; her mother (the ``Ogress'') is less than overjoyed with this development and life at home becomes a pitched battle. Julie escapes the tension by slipping into her favorite fantasy, in which Princess Sparrow fights the Ogress to restore the long-lost king (her father aban doned the family when she was three) to his throne . In the book's tense climax, Julie is forced to confront reality and act for herself. Posner ( Sweet Pain ) presents his characters empathetically, and powerfully conveys the lure of fantasy. He is adept at building anticipation through inference and dialogue, rather than through direct commentary. However, some of the relationships are too sketchily portrayed, and although the story is set in Long Island, N.Y., there is no sense of place. The book is well-paced, though, and Posner's talent for building anticipation and dread will keep readers hooked to the finish. Ages 12-up. (July)