NORA AND THE TEXAS TERROR
by Judy Cox & illustrated by Amanda Haley
Third graders Nora and Ellie are cousins, but they struggle to be friends. When Ellie’s father loses his job, her family moves from Texas to Portland, Ore., upsetting Nora’s predictable, calm life. Everyone struggles to adjust, but Nora and Ellie have the hardest time. Nora craves order while Ellie thrives on chaos. The girls have to share clothes, and Ellie is critical of the girly-girl clothes her cousin wears while Nora accuses Ellie of being a goth. When they end up in the same class, their teacher assigns a family-tree project that forces the girls into uncomfortable togetherness. Turns out they have more in common than they think, as they realize that they share a name and a relationship that is a lot like the one their mothers shared as children. Realistic situations coupled with modern economic problems make this a familiar story for today’s young readers. Humorous black-and-white drawings pepper the story, deepening understanding. Fans of Johanna Hurwitz and Beverly Cleary will embrace these two modern cousins. (Fiction. 6-9)