A touching and funny story of one girl’s journey to discover where she came from and the unlimited possibilities of who she can become, from Crystal Allen, the acclaimed author of *How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy* and *The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown.*
Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultracute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school teases her for being overweight, and Troy won’t give her a second glance. Until one day, their history teacher announces a field trip to the run-down slave shack on her grandmother’s property. *Heck to the power of no way!*
Her grandmother insists that it’s more than just an old shack; it’s a monument to the strong women in their family—the Laura Line. But Laura knows better: her classmates will never accept her once they see the shack. So she comes up with the perfect plan to get the trip canceled . . . but when a careless mistake puts the shack—and the Laura Line—in jeopardy, Laura must decide what’s truly important to her. Can Laura figure out how to get what she wants at school while also honoring her family’s past?
**
### From School Library Journal
Gr 6-8-Eighth-grader Laura Dyson loves baseball, fashion, and Troy Bailey, the cutest boy in her class. Even the endless taunts of "Fat Larda" from resident queen bee Sunny Rasmussen aren't enough to sink her spirits. Laura's parents are departing for military training and she looks forward to spending two weeks with fabulous Aunt Carmen. Then the plan shifts and she is packed off to her grandmother's rundown farm that has, of all things, an intact slave shack. Deeply ashamed of the degradation and cruelty the shack represents, Laura wants nothing to do with it. Knowing Grandma's eagerness to share the significance of the structure and the adjacent family cemetery, the "Laura Line," the teen dreads the visit. When history teacher Mrs. Jacobs proposes a field trip to see the slave shack and cemetery, Laura is mortified by the idea and schemes to get it canceled. But in the ensuing antics, she finds she is descended from a powerful line of women going all the way back to the slave ship Amistad. While a side plot concerning Laura's irritating best friend feels a little forced, the protagonist's emotional transformation will resonate with readers. Generational bonds, notably the growth of the relationship between Laura and her grandmother, are beautifully depicted. With its humor and deep reverence for history, Allen's novel is an engaging treatment of the oft-told tale of looking within for beauty and strength.-Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
### From Booklist
Does Laura want to stay with her grandmother while her parents are away for two weeks doing their army training? Heck to the no. She is already called Fat Larda at school, and she knows that if the other kids find out that there is a slave shack on her grandmother’s property, the teasing quotient will shoot sky-high. The situation, however, starts turning out better than expected. Her father makes space for her to practice her already fine pitching, and she turns her grandmother into a baseball fan. Laura’s “hunky-chunky” crush, Troy, even becomes her pitching protégé. But when her history teacher decides the class should visit the slave shack, Laura is freaked. Then she begins learning about the “Laura Line,” the women in her family going back to slavery, and what was once something to hide is now a place of pride. To fit into the two-week time frame, the plotting is predictable and at times overstuffed. Still, Laura’s sassy voice and her willingness to bend instead of break will appeal to readers, and perhaps show them a different way of dealing. Grades 5-7. --Ilene Cooper
Description:
A touching and funny story of one girl’s journey to discover where she came from and the unlimited possibilities of who she can become, from Crystal Allen, the acclaimed author of *How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy* and *The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown.*
Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultracute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school teases her for being overweight, and Troy won’t give her a second glance. Until one day, their history teacher announces a field trip to the run-down slave shack on her grandmother’s property. *Heck to the power of no way!*
Her grandmother insists that it’s more than just an old shack; it’s a monument to the strong women in their family—the Laura Line. But Laura knows better: her classmates will never accept her once they see the shack. So she comes up with the perfect plan to get the trip canceled . . . but when a careless mistake puts the shack—and the Laura Line—in jeopardy, Laura must decide what’s truly important to her. Can Laura figure out how to get what she wants at school while also honoring her family’s past?
**
### From School Library Journal
Gr 6-8-Eighth-grader Laura Dyson loves baseball, fashion, and Troy Bailey, the cutest boy in her class. Even the endless taunts of "Fat Larda" from resident queen bee Sunny Rasmussen aren't enough to sink her spirits. Laura's parents are departing for military training and she looks forward to spending two weeks with fabulous Aunt Carmen. Then the plan shifts and she is packed off to her grandmother's rundown farm that has, of all things, an intact slave shack. Deeply ashamed of the degradation and cruelty the shack represents, Laura wants nothing to do with it. Knowing Grandma's eagerness to share the significance of the structure and the adjacent family cemetery, the "Laura Line," the teen dreads the visit. When history teacher Mrs. Jacobs proposes a field trip to see the slave shack and cemetery, Laura is mortified by the idea and schemes to get it canceled. But in the ensuing antics, she finds she is descended from a powerful line of women going all the way back to the slave ship Amistad. While a side plot concerning Laura's irritating best friend feels a little forced, the protagonist's emotional transformation will resonate with readers. Generational bonds, notably the growth of the relationship between Laura and her grandmother, are beautifully depicted. With its humor and deep reverence for history, Allen's novel is an engaging treatment of the oft-told tale of looking within for beauty and strength.-Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
### From Booklist
Does Laura want to stay with her grandmother while her parents are away for two weeks doing their army training? Heck to the no. She is already called Fat Larda at school, and she knows that if the other kids find out that there is a slave shack on her grandmother’s property, the teasing quotient will shoot sky-high. The situation, however, starts turning out better than expected. Her father makes space for her to practice her already fine pitching, and she turns her grandmother into a baseball fan. Laura’s “hunky-chunky” crush, Troy, even becomes her pitching protégé. But when her history teacher decides the class should visit the slave shack, Laura is freaked. Then she begins learning about the “Laura Line,” the women in her family going back to slavery, and what was once something to hide is now a place of pride. To fit into the two-week time frame, the plotting is predictable and at times overstuffed. Still, Laura’s sassy voice and her willingness to bend instead of break will appeal to readers, and perhaps show them a different way of dealing. Grades 5-7. --Ilene Cooper