Lefty Carmichael Has a Fit

Deftly balancing humor with grim realism, Trembath (The Tuesday Caf ; A Fly Named Alfred) expresses how 15-year-old Lefty, his family and the colorful residents of their low-income neighborhood react when Lefty is diagnosed with epilepsy. Lefty, who narrates the novel, finds it challenging to return to a ""normal"" life after being hospitalized for a seizure. His mother's clique of gossipy friends eagerly discuss his ailment at great length, interjecting stories about their own bouts with illness, while at school rumors about Lefty's ""fits"" spread like wildfire. Penny, Lefty's ""girlfriend, sort of,"" seems suddenly reluctant to spend time with him alone. His ability to cope with his new life grows along with the realization that, despite his traumatic changes, certain things in his world remain constant--the endless chatter of neighbor women, support from his family, his English teacher's compassionate heart and the loyalty of Rueben, his oldest and best friend. The strength of the author's writing lies in his precise, entertaining depiction of characters and their chorus of lively dialogue. Ages 12-16. (Jan.)