Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall ¦ Come Sing, Jimmy Jo

Two more high quality American imports. Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall is Bette Greene's sequel to Beth's original encounters with Philip Hall in Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe. It is a bit much when you've practised your acceptance speech for an award, and then you don't get awarded it. It's even worse when the actual prizewinner turns out to be the loved and sometime loathed Philip Hall; much mixed emotion. A marvellous book, slipping in lots of advice for young adolescents (pride coming before a fall for one) all delivered without saccharin or sentimentality. Come Sing, Jimmy Jo is another story about life at the centre of the stage, this time literally. 11-years-old Jimmy Jo Johnson is a member of his family's country 'n western act, shown live on networked television. The boy's a star. What more could he want? Well, when you're 11, inside you really want things to stay as they are, have a normal home and stable relationships like the other kids. School? Well even that presents problems for Jimmy Jo. 'This is a real good book, except it would be better if it were shorter.' Thank you Jimmy Jo, your lit, crit, insights are exemplary. With a tighter hand on the editing helm this book could have been trimmed of some spare flesh into not just a good book but an outstanding one.