The Case of Erica's Weird Behavior

Jennifer and Angie have been best friends forever. For years they've planned to dress alike, finished each other's sentences and thoughts, lived in each other's rooms, shared secrets, played on the baseball team, and worried about their upcoming move into middle school together. But their friendship begins to suffer the day Jennifer defeats Erica, the girl who seems to have everything, in the Fifth Grade Spelling Bee. It is a mystery to Jennifer why Erica now hates her so much, why she is so intent on destroying her friendship with Angie. Jennifer suffers as Erica pulls Angie away. Jennifer's relationship with her mother is typical pre-teen: embarrassed by being hugged by mom in public; embarrassed by mom's participation in school trips; embarrassed because mom's gone back to college; bored by mom's choice of clothing for her; incredulous about mom's not understanding the order in the disorder in her room. Jennifer even has mom's lectures on topics such as "junk food" and "helping around the house" memorized and numbered. But there is mutual love. As the story unfolds, Jennifer's cat, Shiner, is missing. Jennifer's search of the neighborhood brings her to Erica's backyard where she overhears Erica crying and begging her mother for time and sharing with her. Jennifer now realizes the impact her own mother's obvious caring must have on Erica and the void Erica must feel. Erica's achievements were offerings to her mother for time, love. Jennifer became Erica's hate object--that is why she was to be cut from the group, her mother ridiculed, her best friend taken. Jennifer does triumph in this ultimately positive novel about pre-teen friendships and growing up. Along the way, she learns thatthings are not always what they appear to be and to stand up for herself. But it is her resolution of the problem that shows her good judgment and values, for even with the upper-hand she chooses not to act like Erica and seek revenge. Instead, she allows Erica to saveSuella Walsh is the author of 'The Case of Erica's Weird Behavior' with ISBN 9780880920933 and ISBN 0880920939.