A Place for Angels — Clyde Robert Bulla

Gr 3-5-Following her mother's death, Claudine's artist father begins a series of angel sculptures. Working on them together helps both of them find new hope and joy in life. When her father then becomes ill and dies, the angels become a legacy for Claudine to help her find her way back to happiness. She is forced to live with her Aunt Lona, a bitter, snobbish woman who wants Claudine to forget about her father immediately and start a new life with her. Friends of the family invite Claudine to live with them and she gladly goes. Aunt Lona shrugs, ``I wanted to keep you. I thought I wanted to keep you. Now I can see we never had much of a future together.'' All of the characterizations are sketchy, with each person seeming to serve one purpose in the narrative. Father is kind, loving, and comforting; Aunt Lona is self-absorbed and nasty. Although the angel imagery is appealing and uplifting, it is not enough to sustain the slight story. Noonan's delicate pencil illustrations match the ethereal quality of the narrative but do not elevate it to greater heights. A simple, sweet selection that lacks lasting impact.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA