Parents or teachers seeking a fictional role model for a young person in how to cope constructively with grief and disillusionment may find themselves somewhat disappointed by this novel. Its honesty precludes any simple, easy answers or resolutions, and Scott is not necessarily exemplary. But his humanity and his honesty make him well worth knowing and caring about. He has his faults, and he certainly makes mistakes. Among his faults is a tendency to dismiss others who are not as smart or as quick-witted as he is. Another, deeper fault is his egocentric inclination to assess the people closest to him according to his needs and desires, and to make their lives miserable if his wishes are frustrated. But even though Scott has a sarcastic contempt for naive young women like Buni Chenowith, he has enough integrity and caring not to want to give young women...