The Kid in the Red Jacket

"Ten-year-old Howard Jeeter's life is temporarily destroyed by a cross-country move. His first contact in Massachusetts is Molly, an intrusive first-grader, whose attempts to be friendly drive Howard to distraction. Park writes in a witty and bittersweet style about the awkward, super-sensitive age of early adolescence; her humor reflects and sharpens the sensibilities of her readers in the areas of family and friend relationships. Another first-rate addition to the middle-grade popular reading shelf."--(starred) School Library Journal. Reading level: 4.5.