Fourth-grader Effie Maloney has a list of the lucky things that have happened to her since she was hit by lightning. Life is good when you have a great mom and two really great best friends, but Effie has a few problems to overcome. First, her mom's old friend, Frank, has come to stay with them, and Effie is worried that he is a criminal, destined to break her mom's heart. Dad already did. Second, her best friend Aurora, is seriously thinking of leaving their private school to attend public school where she can play sports and hopes her early physical development won't be so noticeable to the boys there. That's a lot of change for anyone.