When ten-year-old Howard has to move with his family to a distant state,he is forced to live on a street named Chester Pewe, adjust to a new school, and get used to being shadowed by the little girl in a nearby house.

Barbara Park is one oftoday's funniest and best-loved writers for middle graders.Her novels, which include Dear God, HELP!!! Love Earl; Skinnybones; The Kid in the Red Jacket; and Mick Harte Was Herehave won numerous children's book awards.Barbara thinks that the wonderful thing about writing humor is that she is able to deal with serious issues in a more lighthearted way.Barbara's fans always want to know whether or not her characters are based on her own children (she has two sons) -- in fact, they are not.But having her sons has made it easier for her to know how kids talk and think.What matters most to Barbara is that her books are bringing a few smiles to her readers. Barbara lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona, with her husband, Richard. She holds a B.S. from the University of Alabama.