#60; b #62;A New York Times Bestseller #60; br #62;A Newbery Honor Book 2002 #60; /b #62; #60; p #62;Primrose simply knows her parents did not perish at sea, but can't convince the other residents of Coal Harbour. But true sanctuary can always be found at a restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything, including lasagna is served on a waffle. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 4-7-Primrose, 11, waits patiently for her lost-at-sea parents to return to their charming town of Coal Harbor, British Columbia. In the meantime, a cast of delightfully eccentric characters weaves in and out of her world. Her charismatic Uncle Jack agrees to take care of his niece while trying to get rich on the town's tourist-industry possibilities. A misguided school counselor ineffectively tries to convince Primrose that her parents are gone forever, while at the same time setting her sights on Uncle Jack. An aging neighbor, a restaurant owner, and a charming pair of foster parents are among the other adults who try to help Primrose. Though temporarily parentless and decidedly accident prone (she loses two digits and sets fire to a guinea pig, among other mishaps), Primrose has a subtle, but profound effect on the grown-ups who come to her aid. In a variety of ways, she asks each of them whether they've ever placed hope and faith above mere logic, and the answers are always revealing. At the same time, the girl grows by observing and listening to those she encounters. Her first-person narration is just right, conveying her matter-of-fact optimism in the face of some pretty bizarre (and funny) events. Each chapter ends with a recipe that Primrose collects from various people, including the restaurant owner who serves each dish on her menu atop a waffle. The story is full of subtle humor and wisdom, presented through the eyes of a uniquely appealing young protagonist.-Steven Engelfried, Deschutes County Library, Bend, Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

My Parents Are Lost at Sea	9
I Move to Uncle Jack's	21
The Dead Whalers	28
I Am Almost Incarcerated	40
Lena's Boiled Potatoes	47
What Miss Bowzer Knew	58
I Lose All My Sweaters	69
I Lose a Toe	77
Uncle Jack's Idea	95
I Set Fire to a Guinea Pig	103
Dinner at The Girl on the Red Swing	113
I Lose Another Digit	125
Fire!	136
Miss Perfidy Leaves	143
Everybody Goes Home	159

Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.