Boss of the Pool

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5 Shelley's mother, a single parent, takes a job in a hostel for mentally or physically handicapped people. Rather than leave Shelley home alone evenings, she insists that Shelley accompany her to her job. Shelley is furious and spends most of her time pouting and saying nasty things about the residents. She is particularly disgusted by the attentions of a young mentally retarded boy, Ben, who follows her around worshipfully. Eventually, in spite of herself, Shelley helps Ben overcome his terrible fear of the water and teaches him to swim. Shelley is not a sympathetic charactershe's sulky, whiney, and mean-spirited. Although readers are expected to witness her transformation, all that Klein shows are tears in Shelley's eyes when she sees Ben swim after giving him a new bathing suit and a swimming medal. Line drawings are uninspired. Despite Klein's good intentions, this book is just too dreary to be enjoyable. Janet DiGianni, North Andover High School, Mass.