Felicia y Odicia = Felicia and Odicia

Gr 1-3-Born with a sunny and cheerful nature, Felicia sees the positive side of every situation and person that she meets. Odicia (a play on the word ""odio,"" or hate) is cranky and hateful. She misbehaves abominably at home and at school. After each girl's character and temperament are explored in individual chapters, the inevitable happens: the two girls meet at school and collide. They make a bet that they can change the other's outlook, with the loser stuck with the winner's homework. After trying unsuccessfully to make Odicia smile, Felicia decides to lose the bet on purpose. She pretends to throw an Odicia-style tantrum, making the sourpuss laugh in victory. Felicia was willing to lose the bet in order to achieve her goal of making Odicia happy. Young readers will be skeptical about these one-dimensional characters that never veer from their prescribed natures. Even so, the descriptions of Odicia throwing tantrums are enjoyable and the point is well made. Recommended for school libraries and bookstores. MOB