THE WIMP AND EASY MONEY. Ibbitson, John. Toronto, Collier Macmillan. 1987. 88pp. paper, $5.50. ISBN 02-953502-6. (Series 2000). CIP Grades 4 to 8 Reviewed by Fran Newman Volume 16 Number 4 1988 July The characters in this novel are about to graduate from high school, yet their behaviour is, to me, more appropriate to junior high kids. Perhaps this is intentional, since the market here is students from grades 4 to 8. Randy, the wirnp, has appeared before in Ibbitson's books. He is unlike his peers in that he doesn't like to watch hockey, doesn't like cars, and believes that kids and adults play their music too loud. He has a group of friends and Gorf is one of them. Gorf wears loud shirts and drives an ancient, temperamental car that only starts with the singing of "Farewell to Nova Scotia." Another friend, Freddie, is a budding scientist who has just invented a new fantastic glue called Mongo-Glue. A company, including Laura, our hero's girlfriend, and the rest of the group, is formed to market the product. The sinister Lamont Kripp and his menacing sidekick Floyd enter the scene and the final pages describe the efforts of the kids and Randy's father to escape Lamont and Floyd's clutches. All ends well, however, and Randy is free to pursue his greatest love, the raising of rabbits. The illustrations are cartoon-like and the plot is predictable. The Wimp and Easy Money is meant to be humorous and probably will be considered funny by some of the kids. But I feel that it will have far less appeal that some of the other books in this very worthwhile series. Fran Newman, Murray Centennial P.S., Trenton, Ont.