Hedgehogs in the Closet — Joan Carris

Nick Howard is miserable! His family is moving to England for two years, but if he stays miserable, he can go home to Ohio after four months. First he's got to survive Autumn Term in an English school. That means wearing purple ties and lavender shirts and eating something called Toad-in-the-Hole for lunch. He has to take classes in Drama, French, and Poetry. Yuck! And the kids don't even speak English (What's a "conker" or a "wally"?).

But before long, Nick makes friends, discovers Rugby and Scouts, and he even hides Spike, the hedgehog, in his closet. Four months is nearly up -- will Nick stay in England or go home to Ohio?