Alice B. reviewed on 9/27/2015 + 3559 more book reviews

The year is 1974. Nine-year-old Julie Albright is about to embark on fourth grade; and, while she should be excited for the big day, she's anything but. Back at Sierra Vista Elementary School, Julie would be entering Mr. Nader's fourth grade class with her best friend, Ivy Ling. Everyone loved Mr. Nader, because he allowed his students to hatch butterflies right in class; and Julie's friendship with Ivy meant the world to her. But things had changed practically overnight. Suddenly, Julie's parents were divorced, and Julie was forced to move to an apartment above her mother's groovy shop, Gladrags, with her fifteen-year-old sister, Tracy. Worse than that, Julie was forced to leave her beloved bunny, Nutmeg, at her father's place, and was only permitted to see her father - a pilot - every other weekend. Luckily, she wasn't too far from her old home. Unfortunately, she was just far enough away to have to attend a new school in San Francisco - Jack London Elementary.

From day one, it was evident that Jack London Elementary left much to be desired. Julie's new teacher, Ms. Hunter, was as strict as they come, and wouldn't allow anyone in class to talk. And Principal Sanchez had a habit of walking through the halls handing out demerits to anyone who broke even the tiniest school rule. Julie just knows that she won't fit in with her classmates. And, she seems to be correct. The Water Fountain Girls - Amanda, Alison, and Angela - already know that Julie's parents are divorced, and seem to look for any excuse to throw that bit of information in her face; and the only person who will talk to her is a boy named T.J. But when Julie learns that Jack London Elementary has its very own basketball team, she couldn't be more excited

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