LE BANDE A FELIX Jean-Pierre Belanger Montreal, Quebec/Amorique, 1991. 71pp, paper, $7.95 ISBN 2-89037-546-3 Grades 5-8/Ages 10-13 Reviewed by Patricia Cooper Volume 20 Number 3 1992 May Jean-Pierre Belanger, actor, director and author, brings us this fast-paced fantasy-adventure starring Felix, his faithful bassett hound Bigoudi, and his band of chums. The adventure starts when Felix buys a skateboard at the secong-hand store. While Felix haggles over the price, Bigoudi goes exploring. His howls bring Felix running. He sees a little girl, sitting in the dark basement. She looks frightened and seems to be asking for help. Felix is convinced she is being held prisoner when he sees her picture on a mild carton; her name is Marie-Lune, and she ahs been missing since June. When the police don't seem to have time to listen to their story, Felix and his chums decide it is up to them to rescue Marie-Lune. But all their efforts would have failed if Felix had not discovered that his skateboard was magic. Young readers will enjoy this suspenseful, action-filled adventure with its touches of humour and pathos. The plight of children kidnapped by a parent is a serious and important issue raised in this otherwise light-heated story. The ten chapters are short wit hlots of dialogue; the print is easily readable. Recommended for francophone and French Immersion students. Patricia Cooper, Brampton Public Library, Brampton, Ont.