Never Cry "Arp!" and Other Great Adventures
Grade 4-6?Based on the author's memories of his boyhood adventures in the mountains of Idaho, these shaggy-dog tales are told in colorful backwoods dialect. Not many youngsters will understand the references to Bogart, Cagney, and Bob Hope, but after the second page the narrator's strong voice takes over and readers will be able to imagine hearing a favorite relative sharing these reminiscences. The 12 episodes reek of adolescent male humor: "Cubs" is a rendition of an unforgettable outing hosted by dim scoutmaster Tiddle and two sadistic older boys, Attila and Lucifer. In "Show and Tell," the poor but creative country kids try to outdo the rich townies and impress their lovely new teacher. The most graphic selection, "Secret Places," is about an "extracurricular" science project?the narrator and his friend's collection of urine deposits hidden in the barn rafters. The denouement is not for the squeamish! Although many characters reappear throughout, there is not a sense of continuity. In the 10th story, the characters are in third grade; in the next, they are suddenly sophomores. The last tale about a camp out ends abruptly, providing no sense of closure. Fans of Robert Newton Peck looking for darker humor may appreciate this book; however, for readers who want kindly, grandfatherly tales liberally mixed with humor, a love of nature, a strong dose of fantasy, and poetic prose, try Robin Moore's The Cherry Tree Buck and Other Stories (Knopf, 1995).?Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library,Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.