Helping Ray — Mary C. Ryan

Seventh grader Ray Brennan has a lot on his plate. His trumpet solo in the school stage band's spring concert is in serious jeopardy, things aren't going well at home, and to top if off, there's the question of who's been watching him. Add a mysterious girl who nobody seems to know and a best friend who's a success in everything, and Ray is wondering if things can get any worse. It can. He eventually learns that help can come from very unexpected sources, but that it's not always easy accepting it.