The Shimmershine Queens — Camille Yarbrough

THAT SPECIAL FEELING
Cruel classmates, a depressed mom, and a frightened dad are all driving Angie to daydream. But lately her romance-magazine fantasies aren't doing the trick. Then, ninety-year-old Aunt Seatta visits and teaches Angie about a different kind of dreaming...the kind the slaves did to keep up their courage and motivation. They used the "get-up gift" to give themselves the shimmershine, the glow that comes with self-respect.

Drawing on her own inner powers, Angie creates a new dream for herself -- a dream in which she is proud of her African heritage and dark skin, a dream in which she speaks her feelings, a dream in which she studies hard and values learning. Through that dream -- and with a little help from best-friend Michelle and an inspiring teacher -- Angie begins to create a better real life as well.