Raspberries of the Yangtze is such a book. On the surface this is a simple story of childhood in the backwoods of Quebec in Canada, with a cast of characters that at first may seem somewhat stereotyped but who, as the story progresses, show their true colours one by one.

Set in a time when children could wander free, where hopes and dreams are built, shattered and reborn as a group of friends meander through their own little world oblivious to the changes that will soon be forced upon them, this stunning book is deceptively simple. At first this lazy-day story allows the reader to sit back and wallow in the atmosphere, but soon begins to move on a pace as the author harnesses her talent for the narrative and complements each twist of the unfolding tale with authentic dialogue that cuts to the quick.

Raspberries of the Yangtze is superb; the characters, particularly Nancy who tells the tale, are strong and believable; the story, which begins slowly and gradually builds as the heat of the truth of the children's lives begins to bubble over, is well-crafted, and Wallace shows a particular talent for creating a true sense of time and place.

This book is deliciously atmospheric, with its nod toward better days and the golden summers of childhood, and deserves to be savoured by its readers, no matter how young or old they may be. (Ages 11 and over) --Susan Harrison