Johnston, Wayne. The navigator of New York.

Random House, Anchor. 483p. c2002. 1-4000-3109-5. $15.95. SA

Devlin Stead is a lonely boy in Newfoundland. Canada in the late 19th century who was labeled in his community as abandoned by his exploration-obsessed physician father. After his mother dies mysteriously, Devlin goes to live with his stifled aunt and emotionally cold uncle. His distant father participates in the Peary/Cook expeditions to the Arctic and disappears in the frozen North one night in a fit of madness. Devlin suffers from his father's publicized notoriety and finds himself the butt of jokes from his classmates and neighbors. He is shocked then to receive a secret letter from Dr. Cook that details a close connection to Devlin and his late mother. Eventually moving to New York to live with Cook in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, Devlin is thrust in the politics of the concluding age of exploration while at the same time discovering love with a New York socialite.

This work is well-written historical fiction and of particular interest to libraries whose patrons enjoyed the plethora of Shackleton books that were published in the last few years, as the Arctic and Antarctic explorations shared many of the same characters and elements. An appealing read destined for inclusion in high school libraries as well as the YA and adult collections of public libraries. Highly recommended. Courtney Lewis, Libn., Wyoming Seminary Sch., Kingston, PA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.