Brothers Below Zero (Is it too late to be friends?)

From School Library Journal: Grades 5-8-- Tim's younger brother, John Henry, is smart, athletic, and handsome, while Tim is pudgy, a poor student, and an even worse athlete. Only with his eccentric Great-aunt Winifred does Tim feel good about himself as the two spend their days painting. When she dies, the boy no longer has a place of refuge, and even though his parents are proud of his artistic talent, he still feels lost and alone. He decides to paint everyone a picture for Christmas, but John Henry is jealous of the attention his brother is receiving and sabotages his portrait of their parents. They are angry about what they see and blame Tim, who runs away in the middle of a blizzard to the only place where he has truly felt safe and appreciated, Aunt Winifred's empty house. Sibling rivalry and its repercussions make this book one that middle-school readers will identify with as the two boys finally discover how much they really care about one another. The characters' actions are typical of adolescent behavior and are therefore both maddening and appealing. The plot moves at a good pace as readers feel Tim's anguish and John Henry's gloating. This is a solid read that blends family dynamics and intense action in its exciting, satisfying climax. Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.