ISBN: 9780613256384

I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles Ulana Snihura, Books, I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles Books In "I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles", author Ulana Snihura explores the difficult themes of childhood frie… More...

I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles Ulana Snihura, Books, I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles Books In "I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles", author Ulana Snihura explores the difficult themes of childhood friendship in conflict with the pressures of "popularity" and group acceptance. Never heavy-handed, this story following the friendship of a little girl and her "geeky" yet gifted neighbor is both funny and very moving. Molly Pepper's new neighbor, Franklin P. Shuckles, moves in next door during the summer. There is no one else around to play with, so Molly is friends with him, in spite of the fact that "he has skinny legs and wears funny glasses". Although he can't catch, he is great at telling stories, and their summer together is wonderful.<P>When school begins, everything changes: Molly is embarrassed by her awkward friend and tries to alienate him. "During lunch Franklin P. Shuckles always asks if I would like to share his lunch. Maybe if I chew very loud he'll get grossed out and move. So I did. But he didn't". He doesn't get the hint until she writes him an anonymous note reading "Molly Pepper doesn't like you". Silently he gives up, and Molly finds that she misses him -- badly. She tries to let him know: "Maybe if I shared my double chocolate raisin cookies with him he would. So I did. But he didn't". At last she returns to the previous strategy: "Maybe if I wrote him a note saying 'Molly Pepper would like to be your friend again!' he would. So I did. And he did".<