Wanted . . . Mud Blossom, written by Betsy Byars and published by Bantam Books, tells the down-to-earth story of an average American family. It is a book everyone in households can relate to _ brothers, sisters, moms and dads.

Second-grader Junior Blossom has a big secret he's keeping from his family. He's building a tunnel in the back yard near a cluster of pine trees for his class's pet hamster that he's bringing home for the weekend.

When Junior brings home the hamster, his mom is pretty easygoing about keeping it. She only tells him that he has to be responsible for it.

Everything is going fine until Junior leaves the hamster for a while. When he comes back, the hamster is gone! The boards that were covering the top of the tunnel are scattered and covered with mud. The only evidence is a paw print and pine needles in the fur of Mud Blossom, the family dog. It seems obvious to Junior that Mud Blossom ate the hamster.

Pap, Junior's dad, is sure that Mud Blossom didn't eat the hamster. Junior is sure that Mud Blossom did eat it. So they decide to have a trial on the porch.

The trial is my favorite part of the book because I like the way it is organized, and it is well-written. The author wrote this part in a humorous way. I think the author wants it to be the best part for the reader.

The book is easy to read. I read it quickly because it is so interesting and funny.