Wildfire #63 The Boy Next Door and #64 Angel

63. The Boy Next Door, Vicky Martin, 1984

Jenny and her sister Emily instantly approve of their new next-door neighbors, Rob and Paul.  Jenny finds she can talk easily to Rob, especially about her art.  For all of them, the summer seems to be full of promise.

Yet even though Rob gives Jenny confidence, he can also take it away.  She has to question a relationship that would cause her so much love, and so much pain.

Scholastic once again gives a summary that doesn't describe the story.  The story is mostly about Jenny's relationship with Rob and Paul's mother, who is one childish, troubled woman.

All of the adults are called by their first names, which is confusing.  Sometimes the adult is initially addressed by their first name with no explanation as to their identity, such as being a parent to another character.  I could hardly keep the characters straight.

The Wildfire books are supposed to be set in ordinary smaller cities or towns.  The exact location is often never mentioned.  This book is apparently set in England, even though the text never states the location.  The towns have English names, and London is mentioned numerous times.

I did not enjoy this book.

64. Angel, Helen Cavanagh, 1984

Somehow Angel had managed to tell Jody and Tania exactly the opposite of the truth about a classmate.  Angel likes to tell the best stories possible, and sometimes the truth just isn't all that exciting.  

But the lies, for all their drama, are also confusing, and Angel has to make up new stories just to cover her old ones.  The only story she can't make up is Jay's—he seems to love Angel, but he confides in Jody.  And with jealousy as her inspiration, Angel gets ready to tell the biggest lie of all...

The cover photo is great.  Angel looks like she is a naughty girl.

I really enjoy stories like this one.  Angel has a real problem, and she causes lots of trouble.  This is a very good book.