Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood. (by Megan McDonald)

Judy Moody is starting third grade, and worried she'll have to sit next to Frank "Eats Paste" Pearl, in a new classroom that won't have a porcupine named Roger. And she doesn't even have a T-shirt with words, like all the other kids, because her family didn't go anywhere on vacation. Roar!

But Judy is not one to take things lying down. She whips up her own T-shirt (I Ate a Shark!) and trudges off to school with her best friend, Rocky, only to find that her new teacher, Mr. Todd (or as Judy calls him, Mr. Toad) has an assignment that's right up her alley -- to create a Me-collage.

She's Ramona, with attitude. She's impulsive, moody (of course!), often crabby, and completely charming. She calls her little brother "Stink," keeps her family fizzing, and always has an idea. Megan McDonald's aptly named, feisty, creative little heroine has middle-graders chortling even as they recognize themselves and their friends. Packed with lots of witty cartoon illustrations by Peter Reynolds, McDonald's wickedly funny take on life in third grade is right on the money. Rare!