Darlene's Shadow

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

Darlene Sam, a Canadian whose parents came from Hong Kong, her best
friend, Tasha, and their class are going to Camp Salish. The new girl in
the class, Noy, has just come from Cambodia. She attaches herself to
Darlene, who has been kind to her. Exciting events occur at camp: a bear
steals chocolate pudding, there is a nighttime adventure in a cave, a
frog is found in a sleeping bag, and many scary ghost stories are told.

This short, high-interest/low-vocabulary book—with its interesting
cover, short chapters, and fast-paced style—would be a quick-and-easy
read for those ages 9 to 11. It will probably appeal mostly to girls.
Its themes of ethnic children fitting into school and of relationships
among junior-grade students are of interest in most Canadian schools.