Charly's Volcano

About this book

It's the fall of 1993 in small-town North Carolina. Twelve-year-old Charly is in seventh grade and excited to be in junior high. But then her best friends start trying new things. Wyatt joins the basketball team, and June decides to be a cheerleader. Charly feels left out and can't shake the anger simmering inside her. One minute she's fine, and the next she's blowing up at the people she cares about most. She doesn't understand why she feels like a volcano that won't stop erupting. One day, she explodes on her friends and stomps off, wandering the halls. She comes across the counselor's room and decides to knock on her door. Ms. Williams' room is a delightful oasis for Charly with twinkly lights, comfy beanbags, and card games. When Charly has more outbursts, Ms. Williams suggests she put her passion into something positive. Charly decides to join the school theater club, realizing that all the pretend play she did with Granny and Matty has prepared her for this moment. But now she has to figure out if she can fix things with her friends while finding her own place to shine.