Allie and her Octet had been close, happy, supportive friends since kindergarten. Her friend Jen is like her sister. One day when they are all walking home from school, she is shocked to see a "For Sale" sign in the front yard of her home. Her dad is being transferred to San Diego. Allie's family is going to move from a suburb on Lake Michigan north of Chicago to a suburb north of San Diego. She is heartbroken. She thinks, I will be starting high school all over again in my junior year in a strange new place.

When the dreaded first day of school arrives, surprisingly, she meets Jordan in her first-period class. Jordan's dad had just been transferred to San Diego from the San Francisco Bay Area. Jordan introduces Allie to her cousin Greg at lunch. Allie thinks, As Jen would say, he is awesome! In French class Allie meets Amanda and Chloe. So many absolutely amazing, unexpected things happen for Allie in the next few months because of Jordan, Amanda, Chloe, Greg, and her brother Conner. One night, she hugs her dog and says, "Oh, Sunshine, I'm so happy!"

--Virginia Redman

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