and the current selection contains many books which will keep young readers on their toes for hours on end.
Now for a fine exciting story about dangerous travel with no accompanying anxiety that anybody we know is very likely to do quite this. It's The Mystery of the Gold Mines by Francisco Marins, translated by Eunice Siegel, illustrated (frighteningly) by Oswaldo Storni (University of London Press, 15s.).
The unexplored interior of Brazil in the last century is the setting of this story. full of darkness, danger, unexpected waterfalls. stones that roll down slopes just. but only just, missing intrepid climbers. and the imminent expectation of being eaten by primitive natives. There are of course plenty of wild beasts about, one accompanied by R criminal.
Toni, hero of this story and a worthy nephew of Uncle Juvenal who started it all, will in no time be a hero to the young schoolboys who are presented with this exciting book-journey for Christ mas. Even if it may be considers a story for under-fourteens th setting and substance is all bui on historic facts.
Something set nearer home, hr a story throbbing with excitemer of a more "familiar" kind is Th Secret of Pullin island by Joh Townsend (Chatto & Windu, 12s. 6d.. The setting of this ric story about a further event in th lives of schoolboys Andy and Tor Tyler may well have been that c summer holidays enjoyed by chi dren who receive the hook: Lund Island that former haubt c smugglers in the Bristol Channel.
Convincing
The heroes themselves set ou holidaying to Lundy, but encounte a gang which is actually plannin to seize the island. This sets is motion a story which, for all it crowded events, has a mos modern and convincing ring, are the telling of the tale includes sense of immediate setting gors with sharp spine needles, rabbi holes and bird life. The Chaim air blows strongly through th story and Tom's request on th last page (all dangers done) fo another week on the island "if i