15 year old Austin Gray is tired of being stuck on the curb during the No-Jesus Christmas parade when attractive girls like Sundi get to ride on the hood of a truck. And being on the curb is where Dean Ottmer can make fun of her. Since Daddy died at the bridge, Mamma doesn't let her have a bit of freedom either. What's a girl without confidence to do? Austin joins the Future Farmers of America and gets a show chicken, which of course provides more material for Dean.

Author Jill S. Alexander has created a whole town of great characters in the sweetheart of prosper county (Feiwel and Friends, 2009). And it's not just the people, like Dean's "spit-and-scratch so-called friends" or tuba player Lewis Fortenberry (Elvis), but also the critters. You'll meet Charles Dickens, Austin's rooster, and WhizBang, the cat, to name a few.

Read more about Jill and her book that has been receiving nominations for awards at http://www.jillsalexander.com/. Or check out her blog here: http://jillalex.livejournal.com/