In this story a father's business failure forcess the family to live in their beach home on the peninsula close to the Oregon border. Twelve-year-old Marcella and her sister and brother become close friends with the kimball family.

I thought this was a great story about a family hardships and family unity. I enjoyed reading this book and would like for my students to this book to.

I would have my classroom write a paragraph paper on changes taht teh Abbott family had to go through. I would also have them draw a picturebook about the story. ( )