Jhere are two files on Sahara Jones. The one the school counselor keeps is evidence that she's a fifth grader who needs special education. The other is the book Sahara is secretly writing, her Heart-Wrenching Life Story and Amazing Adventures. The latest chapter in her book unfolds when her mother insists that she be taken out of special ed. So Sahara is facing fifth grade in the regular classroom, again. But why even try to do the work, Sahara wonders, if everything she does just winds up in the counselor's file? Enter Miss Pointy, the new fifth-grade teacher. With her eggplant-colored lipstick and strange subjects, such as "Puzzling" and "Time Travel," she's like no other teacher Sahara has ever known. When she passes out writing journals to the class, Sahara begins to have fresh hope for the school year. Through Miss Pointy's unusual teaching, storytelling, and quiet support, Sahara finds the courage to overcome her fears and prove which file shows her true self. Laugh-out-loud dialogue and unforgettable characters distinguish Esme Raji Codell's debut novel about a troubled but talented student, and the inspiring teacher whose belief in her changes her life. Book jacket. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

In her first book for children, the author of Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year shows a keen understanding of classroom dynamics, a finely tuned ear for preadolescent voices and a lively, original wit. Her feisty narrator, Sahara Jones, does none of her schoolwork even though she loves to read and writes in secret she's been traumatized by her father's abandonment. Her classmates call her Sahara Special because she has to work with the special-needs teacher out in the hall along with the disruptive Darrell Sikes. When Sahara's mother objects to the arrangement, Sahara is held back to repeat the fifth grade; Sahara is thrilled to transfer from the land of special dumb to the realm of normal dumb. Her new fifth-grade teacher, Madame Poitier, better known as Miss Pointy, is dedicated but irreverent, and not easily categorized (She was pale, but I couldn't tell for sure if she was white or Asian or Puerto Rican, or maybe light-skinned black, observes the narrator. Miss Pointy wins her students' trust and manages to instill in them hope and confidence; while the outcome can be predicted, Miss Pointy's methods (and Sahara's responses) are full of surprises. Presenting memorable characters in spirited scenes, this novel will surely be empowering for reluctant learners and thought-provoking and gratifying for everyone. Ages 8-12. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Esme Raji Codell is an avid collector of sparkly stickers and a pretty good roller skater. She is also the author of Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year, which won an Alex Award, given for the best adult books for young adults, among many honors. She has worked as a children's bookseller, teacher, and school librarian, and now runs the popular children's literature Web site www.planetesme.com. Esme lives in Chicago with her husband and son Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

1. Me and Darrell Sikes	p. 1
2. My True Ambition	p. 14
3. At the Library	p. 24
4. New Things All the Time	p. 30
5. We Got Her	p. 37
6. The Lion's Lesson	p. 56
7. George Gets Busted	p. 68
8. The Way Things Are Built	p. 78
9. Miss Pointy Gets Me Where I Live	p. 95
10. Orphans	p. 110
11. Why Teachers Get Apples	p. 124
12. Name-calling	p. 150
13. Autobiographia Literaria	p. 167

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