Claudia Mills

Afraid he will always be an outsider like ex-planet Pluto, nine-year-old Oliver finally shows his extremely overprotective parents that he is capable of doing great things without their help while his class is studying the solar system.

Hurt that her father routinely attends her half-brother's games and misses hers even though she is the star athlete of the third grade, Izzy receives her friends' support when she decides to tell her father how she feels

When their mother's behavior changes and she starts to neglect her children, seventh-grader Cooper and his little sister take refuge in Inchland, an imaginary country inspired by deeds to one square inch of land that their grandfather gave them.

At the beginning of eighth grade, all Marcia can think about is what nail polish to use, how to lose weight, and whether Alex will ask her to the dance, but after giving makeovers in a nursing home for a school project, she begins to appreciate the value of inner beauty.

Having baked six dozen Christmas cookies for themselves and been given many more by the neighbors, Gus and Grandpa find a rewarding solution to disposing of their extra holiday treats.

As she tries to cope with her thoughts about death by writing poems and talking with her elderly friend, Mrs. Briscoe, Dinah Seabrook wonders about the importance of the seventh-grade elections, the school play, and even her relationship with Nick Tribble.

Nine-year-old Chelsea's experiences, which include a fight with her best friend, making mistakes in the handbell concert, and saying goodbye to the only church minister she has ever known, help her to accept that things change and that people, including herself, are not perfect.

The two things that Wilson Williams likes best about 3rd grade are drawing and taking care of the class pet, Squiggles the hamster. What he likes the least are timed multiplication tests. Why think about all those numbers when he could be drawing pictures of Squiggles? With gentle humor, Claudia Mills works through a common childhood problem to a surprising resolution.

"Cody Harmon loves animals--he even has nine pets--so when the school holds a pet show fundraiser, it should be his time to shine"--

Third-grader Wilson struggles with his times-tables in order to beat the class deadline.