Easy Avenue

With a Dickensian cast of characters and an improbable soap opera-style ending, this novel for young readers is delightfully droll, even as it deals with the difficult theme of social classes and pits the rich against the poor. It is set in post-World War II Canada, providing an interesting historic context, and as always Doyle's realistic dialogue and teen-oriented situations appeal to this age group.Hubbo O'Driscoll's first year in high school is off to a bad start, as he finds traumatic true love with the lovely but poor Fleurette Featherstone Fitchell, and is tormented by the elitist Hi-Y Club. Working for the elegant, elderly, and very rich Miss Collar-Cuff makes life even more confusing for poor Hubbo. Is he turning into a snob? While Hubbo gradually comes to realize the value of his fun (albeit poor) friends and his loving guardian aunt, he has no idea what surprise is waiting for him at the end of the school year.