WORDS OF STONE

Young Blaze Werla has known enough pain to make him very cautious. Each year since his mother's death he creates an imaginary character to help him overcome his fears and each year he "buries" his friend along with his own failures. When a neighbor's granddaughter befriends him, the two are set on a collision course which ultimately brings them friendship and heartache. This introspective book doesn't seem an obvious choice for reading aloud, but Guidall does a superb job of allowing it to flow at its own measured pace. No easy solutions are offered here, and this sometimes makes for difficult listening. But Guidall is so respectful of these characters that one can't help but share in their small joys and sorrows. S.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN 94]