Marilou is an appealing character whose dilemma will amuse young readers of this Formac "First Novel." Each attempt to rid herself of the offending nose only gets her more entangled, adding to the humour while raising the tension. Marilou will be admired for her determination and for using her wits to extricate herself, proving that a sense of humour, used wisely, is the best weapon against teasing. There are some inconsistencies in viewpoint, slipping from Boris in the first chapter to Marilou in the second and succeeding chapters. Occasionally other voices intervene as well; the narrator, Marilou's father and Boris again in the fifth chapter. A single viewpoint would reduce confusion at this reading level.

      The plot moves steadily to a satisfying ending from a friendship standpoint: Marilou and Freddy discover they are kindred spirits when Marilou realizes Freddy's story about having a brown belt in karate isn't true. The lighthearted handling of the issue of lies, "white" or otherwise might prove troublesome for some readers or their parents. Marilou's father casually dismisses her admission to telling "Just little lies you'd hardly notice." There is a danger that this may send mixed signals to youngsters. If the book is used as a read-aloud, this aspect should be discussed.

      Humourous sketches complement the text.

Recommended with Reservations.