So What Do You Do?

Considerably more down-to-earth than Evans's whimsical The Classroom at the End of the Hall, this often poignant, if a bit contrived, story tells of two middle-schoolers who discover a former teacher living in a cardboard hut in a park. Once deeply devoted to his students, the hapless fellow lost his health, wife and job in quick succession soon after he had taught Charlie and Colleen in third grade. In his earnest first-person narration, Charlie conveys his determination to repay the now-disoriented and alcoholic Mr. Adams, whom the boy credits with giving him an enormous gift: confidence in himself and in his abilities. With the help of several adults similarly indebted to Adams, Charlie and Colleen manage to find him a home--and restore his hope. Despite several notes that don't ring true (the silent, seemingly incoherent Adams suddenly snaps back to his old, lucid self; caring for their friend keeps the youngsters away from their families for large stretches of time, including chunks of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve) and an overdone climax, this is an affecting story with a simple, straightforward message: kids can make a difference. Ages 9-up. (Nov.)