Laurie B Friedman

After Ruby Valentine misses her favorite holiday of the year, her parrot, Lovebird, convinces her that every day is the perfect day to say "I love you."

Eight-year-old Mallory feels left out when her older brother, Max, gets a dog that becomes the center of attention.

When Mallory's mother refuses to buy her a purse, Mallory tries a series of businesses in order to make money and buy it herself.

After a difficult year, Mallory plans a month-long celebration of her ninth birthday in hopes that her next year will be wonderful.

Despite her fears of being a "third wheel," Mallory goes on a cruise for the wedding of the mother and father of her two best friends.

Nine-year-old Mallory turns to her diary to sort through her emotions when she finds out she has a secret admirer and her two best friends' parents may be getting engaged.

When a bad stomachache sends Mallory to the hospital during a winter reunion with neighbor Mary Ann and their summer camp bunkmates, she is sad that her friends seem to be having great fun without her.

When Mallory is appointed to the Fern Falls Elementary School Environmental Committee, which is deciding on class projects for the upcoming Green Fair, she rapidly succeeds in alienating her classmates, friends, and family by her overzealous efforts to save the planet.

Nine-and-a-half-year-old Mallory's trepidation about going to sleepaway camp is multiplied when she and her best friend are assigned to different cabins, and a new "friend" seems determined to get Mallory in trouble.

When Mallory gets the lead in the school play, she cannot understand why her best friend Mary Ann is not just as excited as she is, but eventually she finds out--and learns who her real friends are.