From Publishers Weekly Adler's new novel ranks with her earlier works， including The Magic of the Glits， as a moving and many-faceted story about extremely well-created characters. Amanda Bickett， 10， relies on Pink Piga tiny carving in rose quartzfor understanding companionship. Her brother Dale is loving and attentive but much older than Amanda. He's the apple of his snobbish mother's eye; Mrs. Bickett pins hopes for status on Dale's anticipated collegiate triumphs and she's distanced from her daughter， so much like her late father， timid and weak. Amanda's conviction that Pink Pig is alive takes her， fugue-like， into its Little World where she dares to confront the wizard that's destroying the miniatures in her collection. Encouraged by besting the wicked one， Amanda becomes friendly with Pearly， the elderly janitor at school， whom the girl's mother had forbidden her to recognize. Pearly is grandmother to Amanda and Dale but their mother had never admitted ties to the "common woman." She turns out， however， to be an uncommon help to her grandchildren when Mrs. Bickett's warped viewpoint causes more trouble in real life than Amanda's escapes into the Little World. This is not a happy-ever-after ending; it's the promise of better days for those who have learned to cope and have gained a sense of values. Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information， Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From School Library Journal Grade 5-7 Ten-year-old Amanda is small， quiet and colorless. She knows that she's a disappointment to her elegant， ambitious mother who focuses all her attention on Amanda's charming older brother， Dale. Her mother is obsessed with getting Dale into an Ivy League college， although Dale protests that neither his grades nor his athletic skills are sufficient for the scholarship he would need. Amanda feels truly loved only when Pink Pig， a beloved figurine， transports her into Little World， a magical place inhabited by Amanda's collection of miniatures. At school， even Amanda's best friend Libby is made uneasy by Amanda's assertions that Pink Pig is "real." When Pink Pig is lost， Amanda finds herself turning increasingly to Pearly， the school's janitor who is also her grandmother. Amanda's mother has forbidden any contact with Pearly， partially out of bitterness against the husband who deserted her and partly because Pearly is uneducated and "common." Amanda sees only the kindness and love Pearly offers her， a love which gives Amanda the courage to face the devastating changes which threaten both her worlds. This sensitive story should appeal to children who have suffered from the "lonelies." The fantasy element is entertaining but childlike; it is clear that Amanda's adventures come from her own imagination and need. Readers will share Amanda's triumph and grief when she is able to say goodbye to Pink Pig and move on. Eleanor K. MacDonald， University Elementary School Library， Los AngelesCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information， Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. See all Editorial Reviews