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2016 National Book Award Honor Book!

Raymie Clarke needs to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. If she does, her picture will be in the paper, her father will see it, and then he’ll come home to her and her mom. What could go wrong? But to win, she’ll have to beat the two girls she’s taking baton lessons with: Louisiana Elefante, who has a fainting problem and lives with her impoverished grandmother; and fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who is an expert baton twirler, but wants to sabotage the contest. All three girls have troubles at home, but somehow their problems bring them together. Though their friendship is unlikely, maybe they can rescue each other as they struggle with the pain and loss that comes with growing up. Your young readers will be touched by this heartwarming tale as they learn that friendships can come from the least likely of places and help us through both the best and worst parts of life.