Although I have never lived in the Norwood Flats area of Winnipeg I know it quite well because my brother-in-law lived on the edge of it. His kids went to Nordale School and Nelson MacIntyre High School which figure prominently in this book. Going a little farther afield my sister lives on Valade Street which is also mentioned in this book. I suppose people who live in London or New York or Los Angeles are used to reading books set in areas with which they are familiar but it is rare enough for me to read a book set in a familiar spot that I get a thrill every time.

This book is a bit of a departure for Alison Preston I believe. In the other books by her that I have read there has always been a murder committed but this time, although there are dead bodies, no murders have been committed. Danny Blue's sister, Cookie, was found drowned in the Red River. The coroner called it death by misadventure but Danny is pretty sure Cookie committed suicide. Cookie was deeply troubled by what are now called body image issues but in 1964 no-one recognized that as an issue. Cookie binged and then purged, a fact exploited by her sadistic gym teacher, Miss Hartley. Danny is sure Miss Hartley drove Cookie to suicide and he decides to exact revenge. He is a pretty good shot with a slingshot and he figures he could hit her as she exited school one day. On a trial run a girl from Cookie's class, Janine, spots Danny and knows what he plans to do. She hates Miss Hartley too and she and Danny spend the summer making plans and honing their slingshot skills.

The relationship between 14 year old Danny and 16 year old Janine is interesting. Normally a two year difference in age between adolescents of the opposite sex would be impossible but Preston makes it seem plausible. Both characters are loners, live with just one parent (not as common in 1964 as now) and dream about revenge. Of course, there are significant differences between them which causes them to fall out from time to time. Danny is pretty normal as far as interest in the opposite sex so he is in love with Janine but that was doomed from the start.

A quite wonderful story which will be especially interesting to Winnipeggers, especially ones who can remember going to The Bay and sitting on the mezzanine floor or going to The Paddlewheel. ( )