High Five, Mallory!

By Laurie Friedman and Jennifer Kalis

Mallory is excited to start fifth grade. She just got a cell phone, and Mary Ann's in her class. What could go wrong?

For one thing, she gets off on the wrong foot with her new teacher. For another, Mary Ann seems to be avoiding her and spending all her time with their classmate Zoe. And then there's Mallory's book report assignment. Instead of Mary Ann, her partner is the new kid, Devon. Is fifth grade going to be a disaster, a fun adventure, or a little of both?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512419023

Laurie Friedman

Laurie Friedman is the author of the popular Mallory series, The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair series, and many award-winning picture books. She lives in Florida.

Book preview

ever!

Ready or Not?

It’s Saturday morning and since school starts Monday, I have to decide what color to paint my nails.

It’s a big decision, because I know Mary Ann will want to paint hers the same color. I open the drawer in my bathroom where I keep my nail-polish collection and try to decide on a color.

Light blue? Purple? Dark green?

I’m not sure.

I take my cell phone out of my pocket and send a text to my best friend. Mary Ann doesn’t text right back, which probably means she’s having as much trouble deciding as I am. Or maybe she’s waiting for me to get to her house so we can decide together.

We get together every year before school starts to make sure we’re ready, and that’s what we’re doing today.

I grab a few of bottles of polish and stuff them into a bag. Then, I put Cheeseburger back on my bed and give her a goodbye pat. I walk to the kitchen to tell Mom I’m ready to go.

Someone is excited! says Mom when I walk into the kitchen.

Mary Ann and I have a lot to do to get ready, I tell her.

Mom looks at Max, who is sitting at the table. He’s busy texting, which is something he’s been doing a lot of lately. I’ll be back in twenty minutes, Mom says to Max. But he doesn’t look up.

Are you texting Sam again? I ask him.He texted her a lot on our trip to the Grand Canyon. I try to look over Max’s shoulder, but he pulls his phone to his chest. That just confirms my suspicions.

I give my brother a do-you-really-think-it’s-a-good-idea-to-be-texting-a-girl-who-isn’t-your-girlfriend look. But Max ignores me and keeps texting.

I follow Mom outside. I can’t wait to get my schedule tomorrow. It’s going to be so much fun to have homerooms. I really hope my friends and I are all in the same one, I tell her as we drive off.

Mom laughs. I’m not sure you’ll all be together, but I’m happy to see how enthusiastic you are, she says.

I’m not sure why, but I’m extra enthusiastic about fifth grade. I just have a feeling it’s going to be great. But when I get to Mary Ann’s house, that feeling disappears as fast as butter melting on hot pancakes. I’m not the only person Mary Ann invited over.

Hi, says Mary Ann. Zoe’s here too.

Great! I say. Part of me gets why Mary Ann invited Zoe. She lives a block away from the Winstons’ new house, and we’ve always been friends with her. But the only people who’ve ever been part of our getting-ready-to-go-back-to-school sessions have been the two of us.

Plus, this is only the second time I’ve even seen Mary Ann since I got back from the Grand Canyon, and the first time was just for a few minutes when she stopped by my house so I could give her the mini-cactus I brought back for her.

Still, I don’t want to make it seem like I’m unhappy that Zoe is here. When we get to Mary Ann’s room, I pull the polishes I brought out of the bag.

So, what color do you think we should paint our nails? I ask Mary Ann.

Mary Ann gives me a funny look. We’re going to be in fifth grade. Our nails don’t have to match. She shrugs. It’s kind of babyish.

I’m not sure if I should say we’ve always painted our nails the same color or if I should agree that having matching nails is kind of babyish. But before I say anything, I notice something on Mary Ann’s wrist that hadn’t been there the last time I saw her.

Did you get a new bracelet? I ask.

Mary Ann smiles. Zoe gave it to me. It’s from California. Isn’t it cool? She holds out her wrist for me to get a better look.

My dad lives there, explains Zoe. I spent the summer with him and he took me to a market where you can design your own jewelry.

When she talks she holds up her wrist and she’s wearing the same kind of beaded bracelet that Mary Ann has on.

Cool, I say. But Mary Ann wasn’t nearly as excited about the gift I brought back for her from the Grand Canyon.

I don’t mind that she likes Zoe’s present. What I don’t get is why she doesn’t want our nails to match, but doesn’t mind that she and Zoe are wearing the same kind of bracelet.

Mary Ann and Zoe