Ola Shakes It Up

Moving? When Ola Benson's family leaves Roxbury in Boston to a house in the suburbs, Ola is sure her parents have made a big mistake.What on Earth are they doing in Walcott--a historic, stuck-up town where the Bensons are the only black family?True, there are a few good things about the move: Mama and Daddy have better jobs.They have a bigger house, big enough to offer a home to Lillian, a Haitian refugee.But the house is in a "cooperative community" with a million rules: No kids outside after dark.No playing in the street.No jumping in the leaves.No fun.Well, if Ola's stuck in Walcott, she'll make it a place where she can feel at home.Ola the undaunted comes up with plan after plan, including Operation Pretend I Belong Here and Operation Smile If It Kills You.Finally she hits upon the superspecial can't miss plan: Operation Shake It Up.Joanne Hyppolite celebrates community, cooperation, and family life in a warm and realistic story with an irrepressible heroine.From the Hardcover edition.