Twelve-year-old Peggy is shy and hates making conversation, so her family's move to a new town is difficult, especially when she makes enemies at school by the end of her first week. But she slowly finds friends in her next-door neighbours - strange George, a year younger than her, and Sing, the gardener from the house on the other side. Sing's employer causes trouble when she disapproves of the children's relationship with her 'houseboy.'
This story is a lovely window into the life of Peggy, we get to see her relationship with her family, and her growing relationship with her new friends. As she becomes for comfortable having unusual friends, Peggy grows more confident, and learns that she can speak up for things she believes are right. Her growth is not only one of personal strength, but of empathy for others, as she comes to respect SIng and George for their accomplishments in lives very different from her own.
I'd give this to readers looking for short realistic stories, for younger readers trying to understand racism, or looking for stories about shy characters. ( )