The Book of Changes

Jean Free is a past judge of the Vicky Metcalf and Ruth Schwartz awards
for children’s

literature.

The seven stories in this book tell about young people whose lives
change, often dramatically, as their narratives unfold. The title story
is about Tobias, a procrastinating student who is inspired by I Ching:
The Book of Changes to complete his school project on time. “Dawn”
is a story of young Barnsey, who learns that his parents are separating
and comes to realize that he must come to terms with the changes in his
life. In other stories, Wynne-Jones writes perceptively about such
topics as coping with a school bully, absent fathers, and life in an
unconventional family. This is a gracefully written, insightful book
about moving toward maturity and taking responsibility for one’s
actions. Recommended.