Cute and alarmingly realistic. Ally has made it to the sixth grade without really being able to read or write. She's moved around a lot and teachers tend to shuffle her along without paying attention to her--or worse, simply viewing her as a nuisance. She's developed a series of coping mechanisms to hide her learning disability. The thing is, Ally is clearly whip-smart and talented in so many other ways. It takes the notice of a concerned teacher and a couple of new friends at school to help Ally understand her range of possibilities. Hunt keeps the book at that magic spot of warm and fuzzy before it ever gets too cloying. I'm hoping this'll pop up on Newbery lists later this year.