Portland, Oregon.
The Depression



Sarah and Katie are best friends in Miss Mulkey's sixth grade class at Roseland School.
On a bright fall morning they head for school early to turn in the play they've written for the class competition; the winning play will be presented by their class at the Thanksgiving program which will raise food donations for out-of-work families.
On the same day that Sarah and Katie hand in their play, a new girl arrives. Melanie Rivers is from Hollywood, California. She wears a velvet dress to school and lives in an apartment! Everyone but Katie is fascinated by the new girl from Hollywood.
Melanie is determined to play the lead role in whatever play wins the competition. Sarah, who will be the director if her play wins, has promised the lead role of Collette to co-author Katie.
Sarah's and Katie's play wins. Katie agrees that Melanie would make a better lead actress. Sarah and Katie fight over what kind of a person really Melanie is, and Will, Eddie, Katie and other cast members soon stop coming to the rehearsals at Melanie's house. Sarah knows the things they do at Melanie's house, like making prank calls, are wrong, but she can't resist being there.
Sarah is attacked by class bully Danny Wade on her way home from rehearsal one night. She learns that Danny is angry because his classmates exclude him from their activities. Soon after, Miss Lane's diamond ring disappears and Danny is accused of stealing it by an anonymous caller.

Beautiful Miss Lane, the auditorum teacher in charge of the Thanksgiving program, turns against the children after losing her diamond ring. She accuses someone in the class of stealing it.
Sarah longs to unburden herself to her mother.
A class in turmoil: The ring is gone, the play is a shambles, and Danny is outcast.




These outstanding illustrations from this out-of-print book
are by Trina Schart Hyman.