daytona beach (fla.)

"Growing up in the 1950s, nine-year-old Maryellen longs to stand out, but in a family with five brothers and sisters, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle!"--.

In the 1950s, if fourth-grader Maryellen is going to invent a flying machine, become famous, and get her big sister Joan's wedding off the ground, she will need all the help and all the friends she can get.

Growing up in the 1950s, nine-year-old Maryellen longs to stand out, but in a family with five brothers and sisters, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle!.

Maryellen wants to stand out, but with five brothers and sisters, it's not so easy. Giving herself a haircut doesn't go quite the way she expects - and when she draws a cartoon of her teacher on the first day of fourth grade, she draws more attention than she wants! At least her drawing skills help her make an interesting new friend. Together, they might be able to win the Geography Bee - but only if Maryellen can find a way to make her old friends overcome their prejudice.

Maryellen's 10th birthday is approaching and she wants to celebrate in a special way, but first she has to decide how she wants to celebrate and hopes all her plans turn out better than expected.