In the Time of Trouble

This introspective first novel set in Cameroun, Africa, during its revolution explores the struggles of 14-year-old Jessie Howells, the daughter of two American missionaries. War's harsh realities hit Jessie hard when she hears about the tragedies within an African friend's family and learns that her own parents have been abducted. While the fates of her mother and father remain uncertain, Jessie must act as head of the family, making important decisions for her two siblings as well as for herself. In this impeccably researched book, Weaver-Gelzer does a thorough job examining Jessie's dilemmas, yet the author's awkward pacing and tendency to overwrite decrease the story's emotional impact. While some readers will be content to trace this heroine's inner growth, others may crave more action and less analysis of moral issues. Ages 12-up. (Jan.)