Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest by Amos Oz; trans, from the Hebrew bySondraSilverston Intermediate, Middle School Harcourt 134 pp. 3/11 978-0-547-55153-1 $15.99

A much-honored Israeli novelist pens a lyrical allegory concerning a gloomy village from which all animals fled so long ago that only adults remember them; a village plagued by cruel teasing and by fear of Nehi the Mountain Demon, who villagers believe took the animals and still stalks the streets at night; a place haunted by its past. Matti's father is evasive: 'Once, things happened here in the village, things we're not proud of. But not everyone is to blame. . .So much time has passed. We forgot, Matti. We forgot and that's it. Leave it alone. . .This conversation never happened." Such denial is shared, in different degrees, by other adults: a teacher who tells animal stories; a fisherman who carves animal figures. But Matti and his friend Maya believe they've seen a tiny fish in the river. Exploring the forested mountain, they find Nehi himself in an Eden-like peaceable kingdom. So far so good: in the book's atmospheric first half, good and evil seem to arise from familiar human interactions. Now the debate turns more specific, dwelling on abuse and bullying, past and present. The story becomes didactic before coming to its hopeful open ending, the homeward-bound children agreeing that "we have to tell. . .tomorrow." Though not perfect, it's a thoughtful, provocative tale, rooted in real historical troubles. JOANNA RUDGE LONG