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When Maxine Goode's mother signs up to be Maxine's Girl Scout troop leader, a socially embarrassed Maxine and her best friend Bonnie plot to make the leader's job so awful she will want to quit

Sixth-grader Maxine B. Goode has a serious case of the I-Hate-Girl-Scouts-Blues, but her walkout at an after-school meeting is foiled by the appearance of a new volunteerher motherwho's decided to become ``a community helper'' by joining Max's troop. In a panic, Max and her best friend Bonnie conjure up a succession of pranks designed to force Mrs. Goode to quiteach of which hilariously backfireuntil an ill-fated troop excursion to Camp Wocka Wocka breaks Mrs. Goode's brave resolve. Fast, witty dialogue and humorous true-to-life touches make this novel fun, particularly for mischievous girls. Ages 8-12. (March) Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 4-6 Maxine, an 11-year-old middle child with an ``attitude'' problem, is mortified when she discovers that her mother has volunteered to become her new assistant Girl Scout leader. Maxine and best friend Bonnie (who acts as Maxine's attorney and cohort in crime) have already decided to drop out of Girl Scoutsto avoid being around Ruth Ellen Wolfe, the snotty daughter of the troop's other leader. Since, Maxine reasons, she can't quit Girl Scouts as long as her mother is a leader, she and Bonnie embark upon a series of hilariously disastrous plots designed to convince Mom to quit. Riskind has done a fine job of capturing the reckless enthusiasm of 11 year oldswho plunge headfirst into each new venture, and consider the consequences only later. The characters of the girls are well drawn (although Mom seems a little flat sometimes). Much different, both in tone and subject matter, from Riskind's first novel, Apple Is My Sign (Houghton, 1981), this book should appeal to fans of Lois Lowry's ``Anastasia'' books (Houghton). A solid choice for this age group. Kathryn M. Weisman, Willowbrook Sch . , Glenview, Ill. Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.