Fourth Grade Changes

By Lisa Freels

Sanjay is enjoying fourth grade, even though his irritating older sister is way too bossy. He has great friends, a positive teacher, and a supportive family. Sanjay is determined to become more awesome sooner than later, because he is going to be a big brother in only a month.

Just as he is adjusting to the new school year, Sanjay learns that his Nanu is coming to live with them and that he will eventually have to share a bedroom with his new baby sister. As Sanjay attempts to adjust to his new normal and changing family situation, he must also deal with other personal challenges. Will he be able to embrace these changes positively, or will it just be too much for him to handle?

Fourth Grade Changes is the tale of a boy’s quest to overcome his personal challenges while remaining optimistic about life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665731447

Lisa Freels

Lisa Freels teaches elementary school in the San Francisco Bay area. As an educator for thirty years, she has gained a unique perspective of the student experience and enjoys crafting stories for children as a summer hobby. This is the second book in a series.

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Copyright © 2022 Lisa Freels.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

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www.archwaypublishing.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3143-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3144-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022918611

Archway Publishing rev. date: 11/10/2022

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

OTHER BOOKS IN THE

PLAYA VISTA ELEMENTARY SERIES

Fourth Grade Heroes

DEDICATION

To all of the Nanas, Abuelas, Nonnies, and Grandmas that bring families together. And a special shout out to the grandkids who love them! Family is everything.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Amanda, Melissa, and Monina for being brave enough to be the first to voluntarily read the roughest of drafts! I hope it wasn’t too tedious. Thanks doesn’t even convey the emotion behind my gratitude toward all of you! Thanks to Khadija for answering my endless questions. A special thanks to Audrey L. for thoughtfully helping me name Sanjay’s new sister. No spoilers here; you must read the story to see what Audrey suggested. Thank you, Yash B. for agreeing to be Sanjay! You are an amazing human! Thanks to Alyssa, Ryan, and Traci for letting me talk about my book endlessly. Thanks for listening! Thanks to Bob for always being supportive of everything I do. I am so lucky to have you on this journey called life.

CHAPTER

ONE

Sanjay, do you want your bagel toasted?

My mom’s voice tickled my ears, waking me up way too early for a Saturday. I rolled over and looked at my clock. Squinting, I thought it read 7:30 a.m. What?

Sanjay! Did you hear me? Her shrill voice jolted me completely awake. Maybe it wasn’t Saturday after all.

I’m awake. What day is it? I called down. If it wasn’t Saturday, I was definitely going to be late for school. Uh-oh…

I don’t have time for your games, Sanjay. You wanted to go to the beach today. Move it!

Aha! It finally hit me, just as hard as the Frisbee hit my face yesterday at recess. Beach day. I had been looking forward to this for weeks. After surviving over two months of being back at school, my family and my best friend, JJ, and I were going to spend the day at the beach.

Coming! And toasted, please. I figured a little politeness would calm her down. Maybe. She tends to get a bit excited when she thinks I’m not listening, which I always do. Mostly.

I hopped out of bed, racing to get into the bathroom before my older sister, Priya. If I didn’t, I would be even later, and I didn’t think Mom would understand. Luck was on my side; the bathroom was empty. Quickly slamming the door, I did everything I needed to in record time. Even brushing all of my teeth, not just the front ones.

I took off down the hallway, eager to get the day started. It’s always a great day when you have something to look forward to. And today was going to be the best of great days, I thought. I raced to the kitchen. Oof… Suddenly I was on my back, staring at the ceiling. What?

My mom and dad came rushing to my side, the loud thump of me falling on the floor grabbing their attention.

What happened? Why are you laying on the floor? My mom’s voice was a little accusatory, like I slipped and fell on purpose. Get up. We don’t have time for your shenanigans.

Geez. There I was, flat on my back, not even knowing what happened, and Mom thought I was fooling around. So not fair.

My dad reached down to help me up. Once he let go of my hand, I looked down to see what I had tripped on. A shoe. My shoe, almost the same color as the tile floor I had fallen on. I didn’t know why it was there, and worse, why hadn’t I seen