Love from the 5th Gr

Casey Valentine and Tracy Matson meet again, for the first time since The Girl Who Knew It All, for a visit during summer vacation. Then Tracy temporarily moves to Casey's town and starts fifth grade. But Casey's happiness is short-lived when Tracy is elected class president and begins to regale her classmates with stories highlighting Casey's clumsiness. Tracy's bravado makes her popular, and Casey becomes angrier still at having to be her partner in a class project. Eventually the air is cleared, and when Tracy returns to her hometown, the two pen pals are already making plans for a Thanksgiving get-together. This pleasant book appealingly presents the ups and downs of friendshiphow it can founder on jealousy and misunderstanding. A subplot underscores conflicting feelings children may have when a new baby joins the family. (9-12)