Threats to the local birds and animals from feather and hide hunters and the attempts of a naturalist to identify the various species before they become extinct provide the background for a gripping novel set in the Florida Everglades in the early 1900s. Thirteen-year-old Tyler is hired as a guide, with no hint of the danger that waits upriver. A subplot gradually reveals the reason that Ty's family is living in the swamp, and, as the multifaceted story evolves, the conflict between ethics and survival becomes pivotal.

Gr 2-3 Nine-year-old Carolyn tries to get her parents and grandparents to say that they love her best, but she doesn't get the response she had hoped for. The plot revolves around a drama production in which Carolyn totally freezes on stage. Later, Mom tells her that she loves her anyway, that she loves her three children the best she knows how, and life goes on. This offering feels like a picture book that has been stretched into a chapter book. It is heavy on dialogue, which sometimes interferes with early readers' comprehension. Carolyn does not come across as a likable protagonist; she is too self-centered to notice that she is hurting other members of her family. Marshall's realistic full-page illustrations of this African-American family are a welcome feature. There were opportunities in this story to redeem Carolyn with some humor or kindness, but it just doesn't happen. Sharon R. Pearce, Chippewa Elementary School, Bensenville, IL