Non-fiction. The monarch butterfly's spring migration.

A quiet, lyrical story that sensitively explores issues of friendship and being true to oneself.

Grade 3-5

When fourth-grader Mina arrives at her new elementary school, she is relieved to be accepted into the Fellow Friends groups: Ruth the athlete, Ala the reader, and Sammy the bug collector. These foursome greets each other with the Fellow Friends handshake and takes turn carrying home the ever-enlarging Friendship Ball, built from bits and scraps of yarn. Mina is timid, considers herself as "girlie girl" and feels insecure about herself. Her mother calls her "a stick in the mud." However, during a track tryout, this "girlie girl" and "stick in the mud" discovers she discovers her running skill; she almost outruns her friend Ruth. Realizing that her running skill may jeopardize her friendship with Ruth, Mina intentionally loses a run. Mina experiences identity crisis as she tries to conceal her love for running. As she struggles with her identity crisis, she figures out the importance of beign true to her friend, Ruth. At the same time, Mina discovers the significance of being true to herself. When she gathers her courage and confronts Ruth regarding her crisis, the climax reaches its all-time high. Similar to the many phases of the moon, Mina finds out she is not restricted to being just one type of person: She can polish her nails and runs at the same time.

Marsden offers a close look at the give-and-take friendship and a sensitive portrayal of two athletes who run for different reasons. The story offers children with a ethical dilemma that they may want to discuss: Should Mina conceal her talent to save her friendship with Ruth? The author tells Mina's story simply and honestly. Children will connect and relate to Mina's problems and emotions. In addition, children will embrace Mina as they cheer her on and learning little fragments of themselves along the way. The sport, track, is discussed, though the action is predominantly internal.