THINGS HOPED FOR

Andrew Clements's multilayered novel weaves a realistic coming-of-age story with a warp of mystery and a weft of science fiction. Gwen left her family in West Virginia to live with her grandfather while attending the Manhattan School of Music in pursuit of a career as a professional violinist. Nancy Wu is believable as a young woman trying to maintain her focus and schedule as college auditions approach while at the same time trying to solve the mystery of her grandfather's disappearance. Wu manages to maintain the credibility of Gwen's story, even after Robert, the protagonist in Clements's previous book, THINGS NOT SEEN, reappears and infuses the story with a dose of sci-fi. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 07]