11-year-old Julie Welsh keeps getting involved in her younger brother’s wild ideas–and getting in trouble with her parents because she is older. If that weren’t bad enough, for a school project she must correspond with an elderly resident of a nursing home, and the normally active fifth-grader is feeling increasingly tired and developing severe joint pain.
When Julie’s symptoms become too serious to ignore, a doctor's examination results in a frightening diagnosis: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In a series of letters to her pen pal, Julie pours out her frustrations, fears, and wishes. As the disorder wreaks havoc on her life, Julie is determined to live as normally as possible, even making a run for student council and entering a race--with encouragement from a very unexpected source. The prolific author of the Pete the Cat series, Earthquake Terror, Nightmare Mountain, and many other outstanding books has written a powerful story, with just the right touch of humor, peopled with unforgettable characters. You will cheer for Julie every step of the way.
Ages 9-12
Recommended by Basya Karp, Librarian, New York
