GRANDFATHER ADDS ZEST TO STORY

Do you sometimes feel like you are different from everyone else?

This is how Jane Miller feels in Lone Star, a book by Barbara Barrie. This 182-page book, filled with excitement, is about a girl who has to make a major adjustment to a new city.

Jane Miller and her Jewish family just moved from Chicago to Corpus Christi, Tex. Around Hanukkah time she gets invited to a Christmas party where they are decorating a Christmas tree. Jane is fascinated by the tree and talks her parents into letting her have a "Hanukkah bush."

When her grandfather, who is an orthodox Jew, sees the tree, he is furious.

Here is part of the argument:

". . . Then he looked down and saw the quivering tree. His mouth opened slightly and seemed to freeze. Jane's foot knocked against the base of the tree, and it swayed crazily. The country music from next door ricocheted off the walls as Grandpa's breathing grew louder.

`This is not possible,' Grandpa whispered.

`Please, it doesn't mean _ '

`You have this heathen thing _ '

"Grandpa, please let me explain _ ' "

I liked this book because it described the hardships of moving from a rather large city to a smaller city. And it has so much excitement in it, I couldn't put it down. I always wanted to know what Jane's grandfather was going to do.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is having trouble adjusting to the traditions of his or her religious beliefs.