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    A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)
    A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)
    A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)
    Ebook99 pages54 minutes

    A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)

    By Allison Gutknecht and Stevie Lewis

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    About this ebook

    Eight-year-old Mandy Berr is spirited, sassy, and determined to shine—even if she’s not the center of attention!

    After learning the hard way that polka dot underwear and white pants are not the best combination, Mandy Berr has gotten over that fashion faux pas, and has (almost) recovered from not being named George Washington in the recent Presidential Pageant.

    But just when things seem like they might be back in her favor, her former nemesis, Natalie, manages to steal Mandy’s spotlight—again. A broken wrist for Natalie means a cool cast and the attention of Mandy’s classmates…even from Anya, Mandy’s BFF.

    Can Mandy figure out a way to get back into the center of attention, win back her best friend, AND snag a pair of fancy-dancy periwinkle sunglasses?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAladdin
    Release dateMar 4, 2014
    ISBN9781442483972
    A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)
    Author

    Allison Gutknecht

    Allison Gutknecht is the author of multiple books for young readers, including the Pet Pals series, Sing Like Nobody’s Listening, Spring Break Mistake, The Bling Queen, and the Mandy Berr series. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she earned her master’s degree in children’s media and literature from NYU. Allison grew up in Voorhees, New Jersey, and now lives in New York City.

    Read more from Allison Gutknecht

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      Book preview

      A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory - Allison Gutknecht

      title

      Contents

      1. THE PIZZA PROBLEM

      2. BUDDY BLUES

      3. BECOMING FAMOUS

      4. HAVE A NICE TRIP?

      5. JUNGLE JAM

      6. JUMP, JUMP, SPLAT!

      7. FOLLOWING THE LEADER

      8. BAD MOOD BERR

      9. BATHROOM BUDDIES

      10. BROKEN BONES

      Don’t Miss Mandy’s First Adventure Excerpt

      About Allison Gutknecht and Stevie Lewis

      For Babci,

      WHO UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF WISHING OVER PENNIES

      Special thanks to

      ALYSON HELLER FOR HER LIMITLESS ENTHUSIASM AND BUSHELS OF FANCY-DANCY IDEAS, AND TO CHARLIE OLSEN FOR HIS CONTINUAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF BOTH MANDY AND ME. ENDLESS APPRECIATION TO THE TEAMS AT ALADDIN AND INKWELL FOR HELPING TO PERFECT THE POLKA DOTS.

      CHAPTER 1

      The Pizza Problem

      THE CENTER OF OUR PIZZA pie is missing because Dad is no good at giving directions.

      The best part of a pizza slice is the first bite because the point is skinny and it is mouth-size and it never has any crust. Crust is useless because it has no cheese. I always try to make my brother Timmy eat my crust so that he will give me his first bite points. Mom says this is not allowed, but Dad does not because he is no good at giving directions.

      Dad is also not a very good babysitter, if I am being honest. If he were, he would have said, Mandy, do not touch the pizza until I come back. Instead, Dad left me alone in the kitchen with the big, steamy pizza pie box, and he ran off to the twins’ room.

      One of the twins had started crying, because the twins are always crying, and I knew waiting for Dad to give me a slice could take all night. So I opened the pizza box, lifted the slices one by one, and bit off each delicious point before plopping the rest of the slice back in the box.

      It was the best pizza pie I have ever had.

      Only Dad does not think so, because when he comes back into the kitchen with a crying twin and sees the center of the pizza missing, his face turns as red as a tomato. He looks over at me slowly, so I cross my arms and stomp my foot and yell, I had no dinner! before he can say one word.

      Dad turns away from me, digs through the twins’ diaper bag, and walks back toward the twins’ room with a package of wipes in his hand.

      Follow me, he calls over his shoulder. I keep my arms crossed and drag my heels on the kitchen floor.

      I had no dinner! I repeat when we get to the twins’ doorway.

      You need to learn to be patient, Mandy, Dad says. Even Timmy did not take bites out of all of the pizza slices, and he’s only three. You’re eight—you should know better. And this makes me angry because I know I am better than Timmy, which is why Timmy is hungry right now and I am not.

      You are a bad babysitter, I inform Dad. I am going to tell Mom on you. Dad laughs then, which I think is rude.

      And what are you going to tell her? Dad asks. He begins changing the diaper of one of the twins, which is smelly and awful, so I hold my nose shut.

      Yow dow nawt ghive guwd dewektons, I answer.

      What?

      Yow dow nawt ghive guwd dewektons, I repeat.

      I can’t understand you when you’re holding your nose, Dad says.

      I whip my hand away from my face and yell, YOU DO NOT GIVE GOOD DIRECTIONS! real fast, and I guess I say it pretty loud, because the twin starts to cry again.

      Mandy, Dad begins in his This is your warning voice. I think you should come here and help me change Samantha’s diaper.

      No, thank you, I answer, and I am polite and everything.

      It’s not a choice, Amanda, Dad says, and I know that he means business. Dad only calls me Amanda when I am about to be in trouble, because he knows that I hate it.

      I sigh a big puff of breath and shuffle over to the twins’ changing table. I put one hand over my nose and my other hand over the twin’s mouth and say, Stop crying, which I think is pretty helpful.

      Mandy, no! Dad pulls my hand away from the twin. You can’t cover her mouth like that—she won’t be able to breathe.

      Then what do you want me to do? I stomp my foot again. I would like to go up to my room and be in trouble by myself, but I stay put because I do not want to make Dad call me Amanda again.

      Here. Dad fastens the twin’s new diaper and picks her up under the armpits. Play with Samantha until I finish changing Cody. See if you can get her to stop crying.

      I stare at Dad over the hand that is still covering my nose. I never, ever hold the twins because they are damp and gross and no fun at all. Dad looks back at me, neither of us moving, and the twin continues to howl.

      Amanda, Dad says, either you play with Samantha right now or no Rainbow Sparkle TV show for—

      Fine. I whip my hand away from my nose and reach out for the twin, because I am not having Rainbow Sparkle taken away from me again. No way! I wrap my arms around the twin like she is a pile of dirty clothes, and I sit on the floor.

      Here is a deal, I say to her. You will stop crying right now, and I will tell you the secret about pizza. I lay the twin on the floor because I do not like damp things

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