Two Under Par

March 3, 1997
"Henkes's novelist's hand is as sure as his illustrative talents," said PW of this "touching and funny" book about a boy getting to know his new stepfather. Ages 8-12.

July 1, 1987
Gr 3-6 -Wedge is ten, fat, and unhappy. He feeds his unhappiness, downing cans of instant whipped cream at a sitting. He is miserable because his mother has a new husband, a tall, skinny man ten years her senior, with a five-year-old son who is skinny too. What's worse, Wedge's new stepfather owns a miniature golf course decorated with castles, calls himself King, and wears a crown all day. All most embarrassing, but then Wedge learns that his mother is expecting another child. Wedge faces the awful realization that he is being forced into adolescence, or something. Henke's handling of Wedge's problems is masterful and shows a keen understanding of childhood. In only a few pages, readers will see Wedge grow and mature and come to appreciate his almost all-new family. Wedge's parents are refreshingly decent people who try hard, make errors, but ultimately succeed in helping to bring Wedge around. Readers are left with the impression that Wedge is a good kid who learns to adapt to life as it is. Still, there's that weight problem, and perhaps Henkes will take that up in another volume. Robert Unsworth, Scarsdale Junior High School, N.Y.

March 31, 1987
Wedge is a slightly overweight boy, age 10, who stows away presents in a box that he hopes to give someday to his father. His mother Sally says she doesn't even know who his father is, and she expects Wedge to adapt to his new stepfather, King, and King's son Andrew. Wedge's window overlooks King's miniature golf course, where a castle marks the 18th hole. The boy doesn't like anything about his new life and being part of a family; he finds King to be a homely buffoon, and Sally, who is pregnant, no longer available to him. The complicated process of learning acceptance and being accepted is one Henkes explores with confidence and care. His novelist's hand is as sure as his illustrative talents. In this touching and funny book, there are no easy or sudden solutionsjust a sense of isolation slipping away, as Wedge reaches out and receives much more than he expects. Ages 7-11.