A Season of Change Along the Virginia shoreline where their families have lived for generations, Buck and Tunes Smith defy tradition. Raised together like brother and sister, they are bound by surname, but not by skin color. And just as Buck has come to rely on Tunes, Tunes has come to trust that even in a place where race can mean so much, their friendship will remain as dependable as the tides. But then the horrifying events of one spring afternoon tear them apart -- and change their world forever. Desperate to hang on to the thing that he values most, Buck struggles to uphold their friendship -- without realizing that his efforts are pushing Tunes farther and farther away. From a Newbury Honor -- winning author, this is a powerfully moving story of friendship in the face of racism, and betrayal in the name of loyalty. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Through down-to-earth prose, Newbery Honor author Staples (Shabanu; Haveli) sharply evokes the loss of childhood and the effects of racism in a contemporary rural town on the shore of Chesapeake Bay. Buck and Tunes, both 12 years old, have been like brother and sister even though Buck is white and Tunes is black--but on the day the two discover a corpse floating in a channel, the differences between their lives become overwhelmingly apparent. Tunes stands accused of murder, and narrator Buck's loyalty to her faces a severe test. Chased by both the authorities and the real killer, Tunes goes into hiding, but her respite proves only temporary. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, this masterfully crafted story boldly conveys uncomfortable truths about society while expressing the innocence of children. Staples contrasts all that is natural and good about the protagonists' friendship against the lies that ultimately tear apart their relationship. The ending may defy readers' wishful expectations, delivering instead a bracing and resonant statement about justice and judgment. Ages 10-up. Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 7 Up-Before leaving for college, Buck Smith recalls the defining moment of his life, which occurred when he was 12. His closest friend, Tunes, is the motherless child of the black family who has served the Smiths since slavery days. When a local Hispanic farm-labor manager is found with a bullet from Tunes's gun in his head, and the richest man in the county swears she was having an affair with the dead man, Buck is convinced that she is innocent. He is stunned when his father refuses to help and counsels him to put distance between himself and Tunes. Even more incomprehensible, her father gives him the same advice. Tunes's running away puts both of the young people in the path of unspeakable evil. Staples has drawn a fascinating picture of an isolated, antiquated way of life along Virginia's Eastern Shore. There are many colorful supporting characters, and the author masterfully delineates the way that racism can divide people who truly care about one another. Buck comes to believe that life has both beautiful and destructive cycles, just as the Chesapeake Bay does, but that one must survive and forgive. Although it is easy to become enthralled with Staples's ability to convey place, tone, and mood, there are some problems with characterization and voice. The villain seems a bit flat, and it is hard to understand why anyone would believe the sexual accusations he levels at Tunes. Buck's understanding of the story he is relating seems uneven. And, sadly, readers are left wondering if there is any hope of true justice. Not as successful as Shabanu (Knopf, 1989), but interesting as a look at a fascinating subculture in a remarkably defined place.-Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KYCopyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 7-10. Sharing the same last name as well as a deep love of the land, Buck and Tunes have grown up together, companionably fishing the waters near Buck's father's Virginia farm and investigating the wild secrets of their Eastern Shore home. But in school, their friendship is hidden, with Tunes retreating into silence, determined to remain out of the limelight while Buck mingles easily with white students like himself. Buck has always accepted Tunes' reticence as natural--her father, Kneebone, who works the farm like his black forebears did, is equally quiet. Buck comes to understand the real reasons for Tunes' restraint, however, after the friends discover a dead man they knew and liked floating in the creek. Buck also learns Tunes' terrible secret: she's been sexually abused by the man the children are convinced is the murderer--a white man, respected if not liked by most of the town. Prejudice, individual and community, is at the core of this retrospective coming-of-age novel, in which a boy faces painful truths that destroy the cozy harmony and order of his life. The description of the natural surroundings slows the beginning, but Staples rebounds with some supremely frightening sequences and a sharp depiction of children's powerlessness not only in the face of an evil adult but also in the everyday world. There's no sweet ending here: Buck sees prejudice even in his beloved father and learns that grown-ups, including parents, can betray you. But writing with heart and a keen understanding of human nature, Staples doesn't shy away from harsh realities: she asks hard questions and, by setting her story in the recent past, sends a clear message about how far we yet must go to heal deep wounds. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1996)0374316945Stephanie Zvirin From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.