All summer, Jess pushed himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, and when the year's first school-yard race was run, he was going to win. But his victory was stolen by a newcomer, by a girl, one who didn't even know enough to stay on the girls' side of the playground. Then, unexpectedly, Jess finds himself sticking up for Leslie, for the girl who breaks rules and wins races. The friendship between the two grows as Jess guides the city girl...

"A child forms a friendship with an elderly neighbor In a series of letters"--Provided by publisher.

"A family gradually moves forward after the loss of a child"--

When his mother dies, a little boy is angry at his loss but does everything he can to hold onto the memory of her scent, her voice, and the special things she did for him, even as he tries to help his father and grandmother cope.

"Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. Anna is worried: her twin brothers, Double and Trouble, have boundless energy and won't stop climbing. Meanwhile Grandfather is tired and can't stay awake. In this final book, Anna proves just how amazing she truly is."--Page 4 of cover.