Changes for Julie (American Girl Collection Series: Julie) by Megan McDonald, Robert Hunt (Illustrator), Susan McAliley (Illustrator)

Product Details

Synopsis

Julie is in school detention for passing a note to Joy, a deaf student who has trouble understanding what their teacher is saying. Indignant, Julie decides to run for student-body president so she can make changes to the detention system. But the other students are put off by Joy, her choice for vice president, and Julie worries that she’ll have little chance of winning if she partners with someone who seems so different. With persistence and creative campaigning, Julie wins over the students--and wins the election without compromising her principles. The "Looking Back" section discusses the 1976 presidential election. Author: Megan McDonald. Paperback or Hardcover. 104 pages.

This book is the final one in a series of six historical books filled with inspiring lessons of compassion, courage, and friendship. Julie’s entire book set includes: Meet Julie; Julie Tells Her Story; Happy New Year, Julie; Julie and the Eagles; Julie’s Journey; and Changes for Julie.

Children's Literature

Julie's annoyance at being sent to detention spurs her to action; she becomes outraged by the punishment—meaningless sentence writing—that kids who are sent to detention have to endure. Fifth grader Julie sets out on a mission to change the detention system and decides that running for school president against a sixth grade boy may be the best way to improve the school. Julie chooses Joy as her running mate, but encounters difficulty as others make fun of the way Joy talks and discount their chances for winning the school election because Joy is deaf. Julie finds a way to win the election, while encouraging others to have respect and compassion for Joy. As the sixth title in the "American Girl" series chronicling Julie's life in the 1970s, this book focuses on the year 1974 and includes textual references to the upcoming presidential elections, the television show Happy Days, macrame key chains, and other staples of the era. The book includes a section called "Looking Back: Changes for America in the 1970s," offering information about the energy crisis, efforts to promote equality for women, and movements to improve the rights of the disabled, as well as other events of the decade. Fans of Julie and "American Girl" will enjoy reading about Julie's determination to effect positive change within her school and between her classmates while growing up in the 1970s.

Biography

Megan McDonald is the author of the award-winning Judy Moody series and its companion series starring Stink. She is also the author of ANT AND HONEY BEE, illustrated by Brian Karas. "I used to live near my sister in Minnesota, where it’s very snowy," she says. "My sister had a mailman whose name was . . . Jack Frost. For real! I never forgot because I thought it was so funny and so magical." Megan McDonald now lives in Sebastopol, California.