Twelve-year-old Antonia (Ant) MacPherson has the misfortune of being the middle child, stuck between her two spectacular sisters. As the black sheep of her family, Ant prefers to pretend she is adopted. In fact, Ant bends the truth about a lot of things in her life. Living in her own fantasy world, hanging out with her best friend, Bud Harrison, and her dog Tashi suits Ant just fine. But when Ant's art teacher takes her under her wing, her life begins to change in some unexpected ways.

This well-written and humorous book by a Newbery Award-winning author is both funny and poignant. Ant is smart as a whip, but sometimes uses her powers for evil, and doesn't always make the best choices. She swtiches report cards and gives a veterinarian a fake address so her parents won't see the bill. Her lying catches up to her with some serious consequences: Tashi is nearly killed in an accident at the zoo due to Ant's misbehavior. Although her family doesn't treat her very well, her teacher is a great source of support. She forces Ant to tell the truth and gets her involved with extra-curricular activities. This leads to Ant being more honest not only with others but with herself, as well. While her parents don't really change, Ant does have a good conversation with them in which they both gain a bit more insight about one another. Language is mild (h-ll). This engaging read is sure to be a hit with most tween girls and would make a great choice for a fifth or sixth grade book club or classroom read-aloud. Discussion topics could include the reliability of Ant as narrator, being a middle child, and how family dynamics define us.

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