Past, the Present and the Loud, Loud Girl — Karen McCombie

Are other thirteen-year-old girl's lives this stressful? Ally's got a list as long as her arm of things to worry about. First of all, it's enough just to get by, living in a madhouse (well, more of a cross between an animal hospital and something out of Changing Rooms). I mean, Ally loves her family, but every now and then Linn (she's the eldest) is so bossy it's untrue! For example, her idea for a present for their Dad's fortieth birthday. Well, frankly, it's rubbish-but try telling Linn that. Rowan (second eldest) did, and she's got the scars to prove it! Tor isn't much help (well, he is only seven). Neither is Ally's best mate, Billy, but then he is a boy, so what can you expect? And then there's school...just in case she did'nt have enough to worry about there's the forgotten history project that's due and, oh yes, the deeply obnoxious new girl that-oh joy!-Ally's been nominated