To explore, to interpret, to define the struggles of youth's raw, aching emotions has proved a pitfall for more than one writer. But Mary Stolz, who has written several novels about adolescents for adolescents, understands her young people thoroughly, and in ["Two by Two"] has written a first-rate novel….

Harry … discovers he is in love with Nan Gunning, a childhood playmate. Before the summer is over, thanks to the inept blundering of both families, Harry has accidentally killed a man and has been hurt in a way it will take him years to overcome. Thanks to his own courage, one feels that his and Nan's love will survive. One has only to read the scenes between Harry and his father, between Harry and Nan, to listen to the talk of a group of teen-agers to know that the author hears and sees true.

Andrea Parke, "Midsummer Love Story...