Tell Me Your Best Thing

Third grader Sophie is painfully shy, making her an easy target for her bossy and mean-spirited classmate, Charlotte. When Charlotte forms the Best-Worst Club at school, prospective members must tell the others both the best and worst things that have ever happened to them. After Sophie risks humiliation by confessing her worst thing, an even more embarrassing episode takes place at home and she is taunted mercilessly when the secret gets out. With encouragement from her spunky best friend, Jill, and the school principal, Sophie musters the courage to quit the club. Hines's ( Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti ; Boys Are Yucko! ) characters are adequately drawn for this genre, though not memorable. The plot is thin, but the story's quick pace and believable portrayal of third grade angst will appeal to the chapter book set. Ages 7-9. (July)