JOEY RUNS AWAY John F. Jansen in de Wal. Illustrations by Bev Hagan. Toronto, Annick Press, c1983. 60pp, paper, $6.95 (paperbound boards), $3.95 (paper). ISBN 0-920236-56-1 (paperbound boards), 0-920236-57-X (paper). Grades 3 and up. Reviewed by Barbara Conquest. Volume 11 Number 6. 1983 November. Joey, grade 4 fatherless son of a big-city topless waitress, leads an exciting life: brushes with police and subway guards, older friends who smoke up, and hassles with authority in all its forms are part of his day-to-day existence. Despite his problems, the character comes across as likeable, one with the right instincts who is caught in a situation not of his own making. No aspect of urban downtown life is ignored: drugs, liquor, racial conflict, and assault are all part of Joey's world, and he copes. Only the ending of the book strikes a false note. Suddenly Joey's mother sees the error of her ways after Joey has a rather serious accident, and she decides to change her lifestyle. Presumably this change occurs; the reader is led to believe all is happy ever after. Poor readers in grades 6 to 8 might enjoy this book because of the action (if they can forget the protagonist is a grade 4). Average grades 3 to 5 students will find vocabulary and style easy. They too will enjoy the action. Some middle-class mammas may prefer their children not read books of this type, however; Joey's life is depicted as more glamorous than it would be in reality. Barbara Conquest, D. S. MacKenzie J. H. S., Edmonton, AB.