TALENT NIGHT

Poor Rodney Suyama—he has two goals in life: one, to date gorgeous Ivy Ramos, and two, to be a rap star. Dating Ivy is out because she's enamored of the school's football star; rap stardom is only slightly more remote because, as his sister Suzanne points out, ``You gotta be black,'' and Rodney is Asian. Paired with Ivy on an English assignment and determined to impress her, Rodney decides to rap on the school's Talent Night. The only hitch is that his great-uncle is due for a visit, with promises of pots of money for Rodney and Suzanne if he ascertains that the family is keeping its Japanese heritage alive. It's all a bit light and silly, but also trendy; Rodney's dilemma will truly amuse readers. Best of all, Okimoto presents a portrait of racially and socially diverse kids who get along just fine without a whole lot of adult Sturm und Drang; it's a nice change. (Fiction. 11+)