Out on a Limb

Rosie and her family's financial problems find them living in the most unexpected of places — a treehouse, on the estate of Great-Great-Aunt Lydia. Not that Rosie minds, at first. The treehouse is awesome — bigger than some apartments, with a great view, and full of fresh air. Plus it's located in a fancy neighborhood. But after a summer of fun on the treehouse grounds, things get complicated. Rosie's new school friends all live in mansions; suddenly the treehouse looks pretty pathetic. How can she seriously expect to fit in when her "house" doesn't even have running water? One little lie seems to help, at first, but pretty soon Rosie is keeping secrets from her family, bribing her little sister, and lying to her new best friend. As the school year drags on, every day presents a new challenge. When things finally reach the boiling point — thanks to the famous "spring rummage sale" fundraiser — Rosie learns that lying is not the answer, and that sometimes help comes from the least likely places. Gail Banning's lively characters, exciting story, and exploration of deeper issues make Out on a Limb a memorable read.