An adept worrier--one who prepares for all contingencies--Wanda faces her greatest challenge the summer her stepgrandmother Phyllis joins the family on its annual pilgrimage to Potter's Lodge. Phyllis--divorced, selfish, and in need of money--is overdressed and bored in the rustic locale, and is coming dangerously close to ruining Wanda's mother's vacation. So, despite some misgivings, Wanda encourages the interest that a dedicated, wealthy fisherman shows in Phyllis, trying to stave off disaster when Phyllis makes the mistake of going out in a boat with him. But, to her surprise, both her worrying and the natural supersititions of the ornery fisherman actually help the romance along. Wanda's worrying shows unusual understanding of possible consequences, in nature or in people; and her straight-faced account of such possibilities, juxtaposed with other characters' dialogue, provides much of the humor here. But, unfortunately, her worrying--the only side of her character that is developed much--grows tedious in this otherwise lighthearted story. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Wanda Munson usually enjoys vaca tioning with her family at Potter's Lodge in Vermont, but this summer her former step-grandmother (who is divorced from Wanda's grandfather) has decided to join them. Wanda is posi tive that Phyllis's loud voice and con stant complaining will completely ruin their trip. When Phyllis becomes inter ested in Mr. Farnsworth, the resort's eligible bachelor, Wanda is only too de lighted to foist Phyllis onto her new beau. When a romantic fishing trip ends in disaster, Wanda's worrying re sults in her saving Phyllis from an em barrassing situation. Towne sympa thetically and humorously portrays Wanda and her innumerable worries, and the resolution between Wanda and Phyllis is realistic. Ages 9-12. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr. 4-6. While some people sleepwalk through life, or barge carelessly around, Wanda Munson majors in worrying. Vacationing with her family at Potter's Lodge in Vermont, Wanda drives the other kids batty, though they resignedly put up with her frenetic anxieties about moose attacks and her consternation over thunderstorms. That's nothing compared to Wanda's real worry--how to get a rich, elderly bachelor to marry her divorced stepgrandmother--a statuesque woman with dark red hair. While the woman comes off as relentlessly overbearing, Towne portrays a growing insight in Wanda, who eventually realizes that beneath the woman's considerable bosom is a real person with insecurities and a fear of growing old. The broad characterizations are played against affectionately drawn, warmly detailed scenes of the fun and frolic at a family-vacation lodge. --Phillis Wilson

Fiction: I Wanda's whole life is spent trying to foresee and ward off unexpected difficulties. Ridiculed for her worrying, she nonetheless perseveres, thus occasionally preventing disasters. Slight but amusing plot, with a sympathetic and independent heroine. Horn Rating: Recommended, with minor flaws. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.