A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK

Stubbornness creates, prolongs and then ultimately manages to take the edge off a feud in this comfortably conventional family tale. Cassie’s widower dad is a friendly, affectionate sort, until it comes to his father, whose name is not to be mentioned. When she finally gets to meet the supposed old dragon, though, she finds him even more genial and fun-loving than her own parent. So what’s up? Persistence plainly running in the family, Cassie sets to work—and after much browbeating, plus several failed attempts to heal the rift, she finally chivvies the two into admitting, with no evident shame, that the break came over an accusation, years ago, of cheating at Monopoly. By the end, they are at least talking to each other again, if only to argue, and Cassie comes to understand that she’ll have to be content with that. Considering the dispositions of Cassie’s father and grandpa, the length and strength of the feud raises credibility issues—but this is the sort of story where, as Cassie puts it, “even though life isn’t always fair, and bad things happen that break your heart, there are perfect moments when people actually do get what they deserve.” Readers fond of such ideas will find it engaging. (Fiction. 10-12)