By: Grace Lin

Rate: very good

It’s the Chinese Year of the Dog! Pacy Lin’s mother told her this year should be a good year for friends, family, and “finding herself”. But there are many differences at school. She makes a new best friend, called Melody, and struggles but manages to find her true talent, which is drawing and writing. There is also a “write a book” competition, and Pacy writes her book on ugly vegetables in her mother’s garden. To her surprise, she wins fourth place, beating people from all over the country, and getting $400! She is rich! When the Year of the Dog ends, Pacy realizes what her mother meant by “finding herself” at the beginning of the year.