Quicksand Pond

Gr 4–6—Jessie Kettel's father is determined to make the most out of their summer vacation by uprooting his kids from the city and renting out a decrepit old cabin near a pond for a few weeks. Jessie is immediately entranced by the pond and finds an old raft on which to explore the water. It's there she discovers Terri, and the two become inseparable, fixing the raft and learning about each other. The more Jessie gets to know Terri, though, the more concerned she becomes. Terri's family has a bad reputation, and everyone knows that they're always in trouble. As things start to fall apart, Jessie starts distancing herself and begins questioning her feelings and convictions. The story isn't very fast-paced, but there is rich character development with Jessie and Terri. Nina Alvamar's youthful voice helps capture the innocence and excitement of the young girls.