Siblings Bird, Fitch and Cash are seventh graders in January 1986. Each has their quirks in this dysfunctional family: Bird (Bernadette) is quiet, smart and dreams of becoming an astronaut. Fitch, her twin, has a temper problem and loves arcade games. (Remember, this is before Xbox and cell phones.) Cash, a year older and NOT interested in school, has failed seventh grade and is on track to fail again. When science teacher, Ms. Salonga, arranges her classes into space shuttle crews to prepare for the launch of the Challenger, Bird participates whole heartedly. She even writes an essay to “win” a place in the auditorium to watch the launch of the Challenger live on TV. But when disaster happens, Bird is devastated and ready to give up on her dreams.
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Need a fun, light read? This one is for you. Briggs Henry, recent high school graduate, has taken a job helping “Mrs. B.” with odd repair jobs around her gorgeous Victorian home on the shores of Lake Michigan. Oddly enough, Briggs and his parents used to spend their summers in their own cottage and on their boat in South Haven, MI, until something happened to the family fortune, so he is familiar with the area. Briggs, trying to live up to his father’s expectations, is a definite people pleaser. He carts Mrs. B to doctor appointments (nothing is really wrong with her) and the paint store (trying to find just the right shade of blue.) When he realizes Mrs. B doesn’t know the people whose funerals he takes her to, he begins to understand she is “shopping around” for her own funeral plans. A little bit of romance with the girl next door, who keeps disappearing, and plenty of humor between Mrs. B. and Briggs round out this perfect summer read. |
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