Gloria Rising

I wish it never happened, but sometimes it does--a child gets a "mean teacher." Gloria's "mean teacher" is Mrs. Yardley, burned-out and more than ready to retire--the fourth-grade teacher kids call "The Dragon of Doom."

Gloria's problems with Mrs. Yardley begin the first day of school. She's on the steps outside school, blowing a gigantic bubble gum bubble to show her friend Julian. Completely by accident it bursts, almost on Mrs. Yardley's face. Mrs. Yardley doesn't think it's an accident.

Mrs. Yardley's even more upset to find an onion in Gloria's desk--an onion Gloria explains was caught by an astronaut who went to outer space. Mrs. Yardley is furious to hear that nonsense. She doesn't believe a word of what Gloria says.

But it's true. Gloria has just met a famous astronaut, Dr.Grace Street, right in her neighborhood supermarket. Gloria was standing in the checkout line throwing an onion hand to hand and missed. Dr. Grace Street caught Gloria's onion and saved her from big trouble.

Is there any hope Dr. Street can rescue Gloria one more time? Or will Gloria save the day by proving to Mrs. Yardley--and more important, her own self too, the kind of person she really is?