RANDALL'S WALL

Many classrooms have a boy like Randalldirty, poor, silent. Fenner provides a look at the world from Randall's perspective: he knows the plumbing in his house needs fixing, but doesn't see his own filth; he's dreamy, and afraid of the children who exclude himeven while admiring the way they know how to socialize. Then Jean, wealthy and fearless, befriends Randall, first by speaking to him, later by dunking him in her parents' spotless bathtub, clothes and all. To Randall, she' a miracle. Other miracles come his waye.g., his teacher steals his cherished notebook of drawings, which ultimately leads to his receiving an art scholarship. If there is a flaw in this spare, careful story, it's that events contrive to save Randall so thoroughly; all at once, every aspect of his life improves. Still, Fenner's poetic license will satisfy readers; Randall is bewildered by everything but his art, and it is his art that saves him. (Fiction. 9-12)