Twelve-year-old Nellie discovers that her mom has stolen the $400 her dad saved for their family road trip to see his beloved Mt. Rushmore. Her father had been counting on four boys so he could name them after the four presidents. He’s got only three—George, Tom, and Teddy—and one Nellie. With a missing mom there’s not much chance for an Abe.
Nellie’s determined to come up with the cash so they can all pile into their car and drive out west. She’ll do anything she can, even if it means selling off her mother’s stuff. Since she’s gone, she doesn’t need it. But for the first time in her life, Nellie is tired of taking care of everyone and everything, and Nellie’s not so sure she’s on the same side as her dad. She’s got her family to fix and the world itself doesn’t seem solid anymore.
Topics The 1970s. Family life. Conduct of life. Brothers and sisters. Absentee mothers. Friendship. Puberty. Road trips. Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota). Watergate.
Lexile 720L
Trim Size 8 3/10" x 5 2/5"
JLG Span Winter
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2020-08-17
JLG Release Date Nov 2020
Minimum grade 6
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
This collection features fiction titles selected for older middle school readers who are ready for longer, more layered stories that explore growing independence and changing perspective. Selections include realistic and speculative fiction with increased emotional and narrative complexity, offering stories that look beyond immediate experience and invite readers to engage with broader questions about identity, belonging, and the world around them.