• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

Sixth grade is proving to be less than dreamy for Julia Gillian. Her new homeroom teacher is serious about schoolwork and has the class "controlling for variables". Julia Gillian has been paired for the reading extravaganza with Steely third grader Fergus Cannon, whose distaste for reading rivals her own. Worst of all, her beloved dog, Bigfoot, is getting old. Soon Julia Gillian will learn that no matter how hard she tries to control for variables and keep her lifelong companion safe, she will still have to face the inevitable. Fortunately, her bounty of steadfast friends and family help her see through the toughest time of her life. Like Beverly Clearly, Alison McGhee writes with incisiveness, quirky humour, and a profound understanding of kids. Drazen Kojan's charming illustrations help capture all the warmth and wit of her lovable characters and the colourful world they inhabit.

Alison McGhee is the author of numerous award-winning books for young readers and adults, including the New York Times bestseller, Someday, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her family. You can visit her at www.alisonmcghee.com.

Alison McGhee's profile page

Drazen Kojzan is the illustrator of several books for children, including Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esmé Raji Codell, and How to Tame a Bully by Nancy Wilcox Richards. He lives in Ontario, Canada with his family. You can visit him at www.drazenkozjan.com.

Drazen Kozjan's profile page