Addie Mills

It's Christmastime in 1946, and all Addie wants is a pair of cowboy boots and a Christmas tree. Ten-year-old Addie lives in Clear River, Nebraska, population fifteen hundred, with her stoic but loving father and quirky grandmother. Carla Mae is her neighbor and best friend in the fifth grade. Carla Mae's house is different than Addie's - she has five siblings and another on the way, while Addie is an only child. It's the week before Christmas, and shopping lists are at the front of the girls' minds. Addie's house doesn't have a tree - her dad says they are a waste of money, and they'll be opening presents at Uncle Will's anyway. Uncle Will has a tree, but to Addie, it doesn't feel like Christmas without a tree of their own. Then she comes up with the perfect plan. Will it make this the best Christmas they've ever had, or will her father never forgive her?

In Clear River, Nebraska, in 1947, the real meaning of Thanksgiving is friendship and forgiveness-can the holiday end an ancient feud between Addie's father and his nemesis? Eleven-year-old Addie and her best friend, Carla Mae, are looking forward to Thanksgiving in their small hometown. When the girls make their annual bike ride into the country to pick cattails, milkweed pods, thistles, and gold leaves for their autumn bouquets, they find themselves near Old Man Rehnquist's farm. Mr. Rehnquist and Addie's father became archenemies years ago during a feud over a pond that her dad dug for the farmer. At school, Addie and Carla are taught that Thanksgiving is a time for fellowship, and Addie has a great idea. She'll invite Mr. Rehnquist to Thanksgiving dinner! Will her dad and the grumpy old man be able to bury the hatchet-or will Thanksgiving be the start of a new war between the neighbors? Can the real meaning of Thanksgiving win out?

The arrival of a famous actress in twelve-year-old Addie's small hometown makes the Easter of 1948 one she will never forget Pigtailed and bespectacled, Addie lives with her dad and her grandma in Clear River, Nebraska. She dreams of a grown-up life in New York or Paris as a famous artist with famous-artist friends. The most exciting part of Addie's sixth-grade year has been sewing fancy Easter dresses for the school fashion show with her best friend, Carla Mae, and dyeing Easter eggs until their fingers are stained like rainbows. That is, until famous Broadway actress Constance Payne comes to town to attend her mother's funeral. Addie and her friends set off on a mission to meet the most exotic woman their town has ever seen. They even convince Constance to present the grand prize at the school style show! But when something goes awry at the awards presentation, Constance turns out not to be quite the glamorous celebrity Addie expected. Will Addie's dream of getting to know the famous actress come true? Or will she learn the meaning of friendship the hard way?

In 1949 a special Valentine's Day dance in small-town Nebraska teaches thirteen-year-old Addie about real love. Kids in Addie's seventh-grade class are starting to exchange rings and go steady, but Addie hates all that mush. When she grows up, she plans to be a real artist in New York City and never get married. Addie's best friend is Carla Mae Carter, whose family lives next door. Addie's worst friend, for as long as she can remember, has been annoying Tanya Smithers, who plans on becoming a ballet dancer. She's always twirling around or striking a dramatic pose to remind everyone how talented she is. Addie definitely does not have a crush on Billy Wild, even if he is tall and cute and has dark, curly hair and blue eyes. She's way too busy with her art for such silliness. Anyway, Tanya likes Billy - and they can have each other as far as Addie is concerned. But after Christmas break, the seventh-grade class gets a new teacher, Mr. Davenport, who has movie-star looks and studied art in college and even takes a special interest in Addie's paintings. Addie starts to notice a strange feeling in her stomach when she's around the handsome young teacher. Is this what love feels like? Is this what all the other girls have been giggling about? Addie suddenly starts to care about wearing dresses instead of jeans and getting her hairstyle just right. Will Addie get her moment with Mr. Davenport at the Valentine's Day dance? Or will her true king of hearts be someone in her class - someone she never expected?