Cold Shoulder Road
Grade 5-9-Fans of Aiken's "Wolves Chronicles" (Doubleday) will welcome this latest installment in the adventures of Is Twite and her cousin Arun, seen most recently in Is Underground (Delacorte, 1993). Although colorful colloquialisms and references to events from past stories may discourage some new readers, those who persevere will be rewarded with a fast-paced story of buried treasure, greedy smugglers, a mysterious religious sect, and a kind of matter- of-fact telepathy. The fanciful, semi-historical setting and large cast of quirky characters add to the story's appeal. Here, the cousins return to Arun's home in search of his mother, only to find that she has disappeared, taking with her a neighbor child. After much searching, a few kidnappings, an explosion, and the uprising of the previously down-trodden villagers, all of the villains are vanquished. The triumph of the underdogs is not without cost, however, for at least one child is dead and many innocent people have suffered. Various loose ends suggest the possibility of a future installment, but whether this book is read independently or as part of the ongoing Twite family saga, it should find an appreciative audience among those who enjoy sophisticated storytelling, inventive adventure, and distinctive characters.?Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of PittsburghCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.