SURVIVING BRICK JOHNSON

Alex rues the day he made fun of the new boy in school and fears a crushing reprisal. As his imagination gets the better of him, Alex signs up for karate lessons. Anticipating every move of Brick Johnson, he nearly dismisses the suggestions of his first-grader brother. Bob, it turns out, has intimate knowledge of the "villain," and wisdom beyond his years. Joel Leffert narrates with relentless steadiness--reflecting the quest for self-improvement that drives Alex's every action. Each time Bob divulges more about Brick's character, Alex exhibits a wider range of emotions--fear, excitement, relief, and understanding. Baseball cards and respect save the day! A.R. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]