Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

With Christmas coming, Marty and Shiloh hope the holiday will bring their town the generosity of spirit that's lacking, but a fire in the woods destroys homes and the town blames the man Marty rescued Shiloh from.

Seventh grader Alice decides that the only way to stave off personal and social disasters is to be part of the crowd, especially the "in" crowd, no matter how boring and, potentially, difficult.

The summer before she enters the seventh grade becomes the summer of Alice's first boyfriend, and she discovers that love is about the most mixed-up thing that can possibly happen to you, especially since she has no mother to go to for advice.

When motherless Alice turns thirteen she feels in-between, no longer a child but not yet a woman, and discovers that growing up can be both frustrating and wonderful.

While trying to survive seventh grade, Alice discovers that turning thirteen will make her the Woman of the House at home, so she starts a campaign to get more appreciated for taking care of her father and older brother.

Eighth-grader Alice has lots of questions about sex, relationships, prejudice, and change.