Patricia Reilly Giff

The very first day of school is supposed to be exciting, but for Stacy Arrow, it is turning into a total disaster. She genuinely wants to make a great impression, but she keeps saying the wrong things. First, she accidentally insults her classmate Jiwon by telling her that her self-portrait looks exactly like a cow. Then, trying to be entertaining, she completely terrifies the poor girl with wild stories about giant, man-eating snakes. Now, Jiwon is absolutely refusing to be Stacy's best friend. Feeling confused and upset, Stacy turns to her older sister, Emily, for some emergency advice. Emily explains that the true secret to making friends is simply being nice. Armed with this new knowledge, Stacy is determined to turn things around. You will love watching this energetic young student try her hardest to fix her silly mistakes, win over her classmates, and prove that she can be a fantastic friend, no matter what it takes.

The classroom store is usually a place for fun and learning, but today it is the center of a massive mystery. When Jiwon brings in a pair of dazzling, beautiful gold shoes to sell, Stacy simply cannot resist the urge to try them on. They look absolutely perfect on her feet, but shortly after she wears them, the fancy shoes completely vanish. Now, the shiny gold shoes are nowhere to be found, and a terrible rumor is starting to spread around the classroom. All of Stacy's friends are beginning to suspect that she actually stole the shoes so she could keep them for herself. Stacy knows she made a mistake by trying them on without permission, but she is definitely not a thief. You will be completely engaged by this relatable school story as Stacy struggles to find her voice, track down the missing shoes, and figure out how to tell the difficult truth before she loses her friends for good.

Being paired up with a brand new student is not always easy, and Stacy is definitely not thrilled about her new classroom partner. The new girl does almost everything differently, from the way she organizes her desk to the way she approaches school projects. Stacy is convinced that they have absolutely nothing in common and that this partnership is going to be a complete disaster. She wishes she could just work with her usual friends instead. However, as the two girls are forced to spend more time together, Stacy begins to notice something surprising. The new girl has some incredibly clever ideas, and her unique way of looking at the world is actually quite fascinating. What started out as a frustrating school assignment slowly turns into an unexpected adventure. You will discover the joy of keeping an open mind as Stacy learns that being different is not a bad thing, and that the best friendships can come from the most surprising places.

Everyone in Mrs. Zachary's class is buzzing with excitement over their brand new project. The students are making special About Me boxes, filling them with favorite things to show the world exactly who they are. Everyone seems to have amazing items to share, except for Stacy. As she stares at her empty box, she cannot think of a single special thing to put inside. She does not have fancy trophies or unique collections. Looking at her friends' cool items, Stacy starts to feel completely ordinary and worries her box will be totally boring. But with a little deep thought and some help, she might just learn a very important lesson. Discovering what makes you unique is not always easy. Join Stacy on a gentle journey of self discovery as she realizes that the best things about a person cannot always be placed inside a cardboard box.

When her friend Jiwon points out that she never helps anyone, Stacy realizes with a shock that it is completely true. She honestly cannot remember the last time she went out of her way to lend a hand! This is bad timing, because her teacher, Mrs. Zachary, has just announced that the whole class needs to become people helpers. Together, they are going to prepare a massive, Spectacular Stone Soup for everyone to share. Determined to prove Jiwon wrong, Stacy sets out to be the most helpful kid in the room. She tries her hardest to assist her classmates, but no matter what she does, her efforts seem to go completely unnoticed or end up causing more trouble. Time is running out before the big soup is ready, and Stacy is feeling totally discouraged. Can a moment of quick thinking and a pungent bunch of onions finally turn her into the spectacular helper she wants to be? Join Stacy on a funny and heartfelt classroom adventure about friendship, teamwork, and learning that genuine kindness does not always need a spotlight.