Mo Wren has a lot more responsibility than most girls her age. Since her mother died, she has had to look after her younger sister while her father works at the water company.

Still, summer is always fun because Mo’s best friend, Mercedes, comes back to stay with her grandmother on the street where Mo lives: Fox Street.

Mo assumes their friendship cannot change, but Mercedes’ mother has recently married, and Mercedes has grown accustomed to a lifestyle that makes Fox Street seem even more run down than ever. Mo loves Mercedes, but she loves her neighborhood too. When rumors of a buy-out begin to circulate, Mo is afraid that life is going to change for the worse. Can she rely on her best friend to be there when she needs her the most?

Tricia Springstubb’s simple chapter book includes family loyalty, a good lesson in tolerance and a heroine with heart. Readers cannot help but sympathize with Mo who places a high value on relationships. One caveat for parents of younger children: Mercedes is born out of wed-lock, and this may be a confusing point for the younger children in this age bracket.

Jennifer Minicus is a former teacher currently living in Ridgewood, NJ.