Laurie B. Friedman

When her best friends Mary Ann and Joey get caught up in the excitement of having a new baby brother, Mallory feels left out.

"Mallory's family is headed to the Grand Canyon. Mallory is looking forward to the road trip--until she finds out that her snobby cousin Kate will be coming along. Is it a recipe for disaster?"--

Mallory starts fifth grade and has to adjust to a new teacher, a tough school project, and trouble with her best friend that involves her brother Max.

When Cloe Jennifer moves to Wish Pond Road, Mallory's friend Mary Ann starts including Chloe Jennifer in everything that she and Mallory do - but in Mallory's opinion, three is a crowd.

After moving, eight-year-old Mallory struggles with being new at school, especially because her mother is now the music teacher and director of the third grade play.

When a bad stomachache sends Mallory to the hospital during a winter reunion with neighbor Mary Ann and their summer camp bunkmates, she is sad that her friends seem to be having great fun without her.

When Mallory cannot decide what to be on Career Day, it makes her feel like she is not good at anything and she ends up telling a lie that quickly gets out of control.

"Mallory is excited about the six-week arts electives program at Fern Falls Elementary--until she gets stuck in her last-choice elective, band. To make matters worse, she is assigned to the tuba, and when she plays, it sound more like passing gas than music. She dreads the showcase at the end of the program. But with some good guidance from her mom and her band teacher, Mallory learns the meaning of "practice makes perfect," and that, in fact, making...

After Ruby Valentine misses her favorite holiday of the year, her parrot, Lovebird, convinces her that every day is the perfect day to say "I love you."

Young Percy Isaac Gifford provides a list of ten rules for getting the most out of Thanksgiving Day, especially how best to enjoy the buffet.