Gr 2-3--A story that conveys several important messages. African-American third-grader Cass and her twin brothers, Jackson and Bud, have moved to a new neighborhood to live with their foster mother. While the boys find friends and quickly adjust to their new surroundings, Cass feels alone and misses her friends. Although smart, particularly in math, she cannot jump rope and envies four girls who can. However, she is taken in by the closely knit community in which neighbors look out for one another, and kindness is the watch word. In exchange for jump-rope lessons, Cass helps one of the girls pass her summer school math class. After demonstrating her newfound jumping skills, Cass is befriended by the group she once envied. In the process, she is given support by her brothers and gains community acceptance and some much needed confidence. Cass is a lively, sensitive girl, and young readers will relate to her problems. With its large print and short chapters, this story is ideal for children making the transition from beginning readers to chapter books.--Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ