Bobby Ellis-Chan only wants a few things: a dog, a dad who can cook and won’t embarrass him at school, and to keep having fun with his longtime friend, Holly Harper. But as fourth grade is starting, he is finding that life isn’t going to be that simple. He ends up with a goldfish as a pet because his asthma keeps him from having a dog; his dad, a retired pro football player, “surprises” him by coming to school as the newest “PTA Lady,” and Holly starts turning into… GASP! a girl.

The differences between him and Holly start getting out of control, too. He spills paint on one of her cute new dresses, and they somehow end up running against each other as student council representatives. Just when things get really bad in the war of boys versus girls, Bobby has to figure out if — and how — the “good old days” can be salvaged.

Lisa Yee writes a delightful book for middle readers about the difficulties of navigating friendships, especially when they’re boy-girl, and about the challenges of just being 9 or 10.

Rated: None