Kids into books: Ryan's Dog Ringo

Author: Marie Gibson

Illustration: Richard Hoit

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.75

Age group: 11-12 years

Ryan Lambert heard the van pull up. That's Aunt Beth he thought, back from the city with Greg. It was two weeks since he'd seen them. Two weeks since Greg had gone into hospital for the operation that was supposed to get him walking again.

Had it worked? Or was it going to be a failure, like the other one? He wouldn't ask just yet.

Ryan ran to the front of the house to meet them. Aunt Beth was already wheeling Greg down the ramp to the footpath. Why wouldn't she wait for him to help?

"Ryan!"called Greg. "We're home!"Greg's smile spread across his face, but he was pale, with dark smudges under his eyes.

His thatch of straw-coloured hair hung over his forehead. He needed a haircut, and he looked even thinner than when he went away.