Watermusic: By Sarah Sargent

This is a strange but gentle metaphysical story of a young girl's discovery of the different planes of human existence. Thirteen-year-old Laura's mother is always nagging her to find friends and new activities, but Laura is content to read and play her flute. So when the eccentric Mrs. Uhrlander offers her a job helping unpack crates from the Uhrlanders' expeditions in the Andes, Laura accepts, hoping to please her mother. The girl discovers that her employer is not so much eccentric as spiritual; Mrs. Uhrlander calls Laura a kindred spirit as together they unpack strange musical instruments. Then Laura unpacks a giant white bata seraphand Mrs. Uhrlander explains that the ritual music they will play will awaken it. But the music awakens something else, too; down in the drains, a monster, an evil counterpart to the seraph's good, is coming. When Mrs. Uhrlander suddenly disappears, Laura must use her courage, imagination and sensitivity to face the monster. Deep and haunting, this story can be enjoyed both for its fine fantasy and its delicate symbolism. (12-up)