"Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them". Emily has not yet reached the age of judgment. For her, normality consists of contentment and magic and there is no possibility of change in the seeming happiness of her parents - Fen, beautiful and mercurial, and Idle, a hardworking and gentle man. She loves them both and her image of them is together - indivisible, laughing, dancing, making every day scintillate with life. When change does come, Emily is a helpless spectator, confused by the puzzle of ill-fitting events. It is seldom that a book is written about a child's world, for it requires unusual imagination and a sharp delicate touch. To Emily, life is simple and rich; she has admirable parents, a comfortable country life and well-established habits and patterns. When the apparent happiness of her parents begins to come apart, change and understanding do not come easily. Angela Huth narrates her story in a calm, introspective manner. The scratchiness of her voice smooths out a bit as she assumes the persona of the characters. She maintains an even pace throughout and provides insight into a child's perspective on the types of changes that come when parents find they are no longer bound together. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine