Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues

The second popular book about Nikki and Deja, two third-grade girls who are best friends.Dejas birthday is coming up, and shes been talking about it for weeks. But just before the big day, Auntie Dee gets called away on a business trip and Deja must stay with an elderly neighbor . . . who cooks turnips for dinner and doesnt even have a color TV!Worse, the machinations of spoiled Antonia, Dejas new nemesis, threaten to ruin Dejas birthday party plans.Like the first book, this story captures with subtlety and humor all the small betrayals and triumphs of young girls relationships. Readers will get a wider view of the girls diverse neighborhood and will recognize themselves and their classmates in the colorful, deftly drawn school scenes. A more serious theme is also introduced (with a light touch) in a subplot concerning Dejas absent father.