MORGY COAST TO COAST

In a hyper-frenetic plot, reinforced by fast-paced but thoughtful narration, Lewis perfectly captures an active nine-year-old boy’s life. Morgy’s a thinker and a doer; he’s one year older than in his first outing, Morgy Makes His Move (1999) and growing in skill and maturity. Does he still fall flat in ice hockey; is he still menaced by bullies; does he miss his best California pal; are his budding trumpeting skills annoying? Yes, but he has become more philosophical, continues to make the best of challenges and maintains a sense of humor. Supported by Chesworth’s action-packed black-and-white drawings, Lewis keeps the hot pace going from beginning to end with nuclear-family life exploding into a feverish conclusion when sister suddenly needs music at her wedding and Morgy is quickly tutored in “Ode to Joy” on trumpet. Truly a boy who has learned how to blow his own horn. Bravo. (Fiction. 9-10)