The Pinballs

OK, so all the hardbitten humour is a front to cover a sentimental ending (a puppy, no less, bringing Harvey back to the living). cares? Pinballs is really enjoyable and, anyway, kids are notoriously immune to preaching. Some slop is inevitable with the foster children taking the first self-help steps towards beating the handicaps of the backgrounds but it doesn't really intrude the book's last quarter. Would have mixed nicely with Louise Fitzhugh and other "young teenage" writers to establish milieu and soften 'em up for later when you introduce toughies like Rosa Guy but it's got a totally inappropriate, off-putting cover. Read aloud?