Agnes's character will jump out at anyone (girl or boy) going into 6th grade, and will cause those of us who remember our 6th grade year to alternately laugh, cry, giggle, or want to scream "That's not fair!" In describing Agnes's reactions from everything from enduring bullying at the hands of Peggy Neidermeyer, to needing glasses, to breaking her arm (and having to deal with a cast), to the ins-and-outs of friendship with her best friend Prejean and Joe, the new boy in school, O'Dell helps readers to understand the range of emotions and experiences a 6th grade girl feels.
The book begins the week before Agnes enters sixth grade, and should be a hit among 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, as well as any older "kids" who want to look back on the final year of elementary school. Highly recommended.