13  September  1991


Ms. Jane Kurtz
1210 Lincoln Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58201



Dear Jane:

Many thanks for sending THE BOY WHO DID NOT LIKE SURPRISES and 
MY SISTER THINK SHE'S THE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE, which I've now 
read and pondered.  I regret to say that neither is quite right 
for us.

We are doing something very similiar to THE BOY and so would be 
unwilling to consider taking on something so alike.  And while 
there's a very nice touch at the end of MY SISTER--the unexpected 
commiseration between the protagonist and Mon--overall the story 
lacks a certain freshness.

It's a difficult task to balance familiar themes with a strong 
fresh approach.  With this in mind, let me know if you have other 
stories you think I should take a look at.

With best wishes,


Lisa Pliscou
Editor
Viking Children's Books