Rebel With a Cause

Twelve-year-old Rebel McKenzie is a paleontologist (the Ice Age kind, not the dinosaur kind). Or at least she will be if she can only go to the Ice Age Kids' Dig and Safari. Unfortunately, her parents can't afford it. Instead, she gets stuck living in a trailer park in Frog Level, Virginia, with her much older sister, her strange little nephew who is afraid of the matching-hair-bow-bobby-sock-wearing bully next door, and a cat named Doublewide who goes "tee tee" in the toilet. But no need to worry, because there is still a chance she could make it to the dig. All she needs is the money she will win from the Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department Pageant. Of course, her best talent is burping out the 13 colonies without a breath in between, but who wouldn't give her the crown with a talent like that?

I really, REALLY liked Rebel McKenzie, by Candice Ransom. The only part I didn't like was when it was over. Rebel is a GREAT character, and I could have read much more about her antics and those of her friends and relatives. I highly recommend this book for about 4th grade and up.