Jelly Bean Summer — Joyce Magnin

At breakfast, I sit at the table and work on three things:

1. A bowl of Rice Krispies with sliced banana on top
2. My courage
3. How exactly to tell Mom I'm moving to the roof

Joyce is desperate to get out of the room she shares with her older sister. All she wants is some peace and quiet, not the kind that fills the space left by her missing brother and tastes like butterscotch gone sour, the kind where you can breathe deep and see the stars.

So she moves to the roof. Up there it's nothing but blue sky. Blue sky and....another roof dweller? Joyce soon discovers she's not the only one who's been driven to rooftop living. With the help of a pair of binoculars, a sketch pad, and a pen, Joyce makes an unexpected friend and sets in motion a summer she'll never forget.