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Amber Brown Horses Around

Part of Amber Brown

Illustrated by Anthony Lewis
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Paperback
$6.99 US
5.06"W x 7.75"H x 0.6"D   | 6 oz | 26 per carton
On sale Aug 04, 2015 | 224 Pages | 9780147515520
Age 7-10 years | Grades 2-5
Reading Level: Lexile 570L
Even when things don't go as planned, Amber Brown is always bold, bright, and colorful. #Amber Brown is out now on Apple TV+

Amber Brown is one happy camper. She and her best friend, Justin, are spending the summer at Camp Cushetunk. Learning to ride Cinnamon, the sweetest horse ever, is so amazing that Amber doesn’t even mind shoveling her poop.
 
Then Amber becomes the target of a series of pranks. Certain she knows who is behind them, Amber and her friends come up with the biggest prank ever to get revenge. But the outcome is not what they expect.

Turns out horsing around can lead to big trouble. But sometimes, Amber is surprised to learn, big trouble can lead to big changes for the better.
© Sigrid Estrada
Paula Danziger grew up wanting to be an author . . . and then she became one.  She wrote over 25 books, traveled to more than 15 countries, and was the kind of colorful character you might find in one of her books. She loved to play, make new friends, and wear purple clothes and nail polish. Sadly, Paula Danziger passed away on July 8, 2004. Amber Brown—and the rest of her book characters—will continue to live on. View titles by Paula Danziger
© Jules
Bruce Coville is the author of 101 books for children and young adults, including the international bestseller My Teacher Is an Alien, and the wildly popular Unicorn Chronicles series. His works have appeared in over a dozen languages and won children’s choice awards in over a dozen states. He has been, at various times, a teacher, a toy maker, a magazine editor, a gravedigger, and a cookware salesman. He is also the founder of Full Cast Audio, an audiobook publishing company devoted to producing full-cast, unabridged recordings of material for family listening. Mr. Coville lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, author and illustrator Katherine Coville. Visit him at BruceCoville.com. View titles by Bruce Coville
© Marshall Marcovitz
"I grew up in Buffalo, New York. I loved to daydream, and through my fantasies I learned a lot about good writing. I had a crush on Elvis, and I made up what he would say to me. When I became a writer as an adult, I could make my daydreams almost come true. I put Elvis in several of my books. Kids have sent me pictures of Fletcher as Elvis. Principals have even dressed as Elvis when I visited their school.  

"I went to Brown University where I majored in history. After I graduated, I came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and Radio, and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. My first book was written shortly after Senator Kennedy’s death. It was called The People Lobby. I wanted teenagers to know how exciting politics can be. After that, I began writing mysteries and novels. I have been writing and living in New York ever since. At certain times of the year, I can be found out at Shea Stadium watching, the New York Mets. And of course, I still daydream. Now I daydream that they will win the World Series again.

"Friendship and laughing are a big part of my life. I write a lot about characters and real people who make mistakes in their lives. Learning how to be loyal and to laugh at myself and with my friends and family is something I still work on. 

"When I’m alone and not writing, I love to hang out with my friends, bike around the city, but most of all I still love to read and daydream."

Elizabeth Levy cowrote (with Bruce Coville) three books in Paula Danziger's Amber Brown series. View titles by Elizabeth Levy
Anthony Lewis was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who transformed American legal journalism. He is the author of Gideon’s Trumpet which concerned Gideon v. Wainwright, the 1963 decision that guaranteed lawyers to poor defendants charged with serious crimes. His book Make No Law: The Sullivan Case and the First Amendment is an account of New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision that revolutionized American libel law. Lewis was a New York Times reporter at the Supreme Court from 1957 to 1964 and wrote an Op-Ed column for thirty years called “At Home Abroad” or “Abroad at Home” depending on where he was writing from . He also taught at the Harvard Law School where he was a Lecturer on Law from 1974 to 1989. He has also been the James Madison Visiting Professor at Columbia University. Anthony Lewis died in 2013 at the age of 85. View titles by Anthony Lewis

Chapter One

I, Amber Brown, am one happy camper.

This is a strange thing to say, because I have never been at camp . . . . . and I am not there now! Even so, I am a happy camper because I made it through fourth grade and tomorrow I am heading for Camp Cushetunk.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that first I have to pack.

I hate packing. There are too many choices to make!

I am looking at the pile of stuff on my bed when Mom and Max knock on my door.

I know it is both of them, because the door is open.

I have trained them to knock even when it is.

Max is my new stepfather. I was kind of rotten to him when he started to go out with Mom, but I kind of love him now.

“Come in,” I say.

Mom is carrying the packing list that the camp sent. I like lists. I especially like this one because there is a little box next to each item that you can check when you’ve taken care of it. This is very satisfying.

However, the list is missing things like “Gorilla” and “pig-taking-a-bubble-bath alarm clock/bank.” I think I have to leave those things at home. Not because I don’t want to have them with me . . . . . . . . it’s just that I don’t want the other campers to make fun of me for bringing them.

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what is too baby and what is all right.

Max holds up a plastic bag. “I just went to the drugstore, Amber. I think I got everything we still needed.”

I thought I liked lists, but I am nothing compared to Max. He LOVES lists.

He also loves labels. I think maybe the two things go together. He has had a fine time ironing name tags onto my shirts and shorts.

I didn’t let him do my underwear. I made Mom do that.

When I asked Max how he got so handy with an iron, he explained that it was a side effect of living alone for so many years.

Max starts to unpack the drugstore bag. He holds up a toothbrush. “You’re going to love this, Amber. It’s got a timer inside and it lights up after you’ve brushed for two minutes.”

Two minutes is how long the dentist wants me to brush, but I usually get bored before two minutes go by. The light is very cool.

Mom says, “Why don’t you go grab Amber’s towels, Max.”

While he is gone, she picks up one of my T-shirts and looks at the name tag. “Amber Brown. I love that I gave you such a colorful name.”

I love my name too. But I don’t love that Mom’s last name is no longer Brown. When she got married to Max, it became Turner.

Max comes back in and puts a stack of towels on the bed. Then he goes to my desk. “Make sure everything has a name tag on it before you pack it.”

“I don’t think the camp really meant everything,” Mom says. “No one puts a name tag on a tube of toothpaste.”

I look at Max and start to laugh. He has a tube of toothpaste in one hand and a fine-point Sharpie in the other. He drops the Sharpie and tries to pretend he wasn’t about to label my toothpaste.

“Busted!” I say.

Mom sighs. “Oh, Max. Next thing you know, you’ll be labeling her sticks of gum!”

I can’t tell whether she is amused or exasperated.

When the trunk is packed, they go downstairs.

“Don’t forget we’re leaving for the airport in fifteen minutes,” Mom calls over her shoulder.

Tonight, Justin Daniels, my very best friend ever, is flying up from Alabama. He is going to Cushetunk too! This is the best, best, best thing ever.

The reason it is the best, best, best thing ever is that I almost never get to see Justin anymore. That’s because of one of the worst, worst, worst things ever . . . . . . . his parents moved to Alabama! I thought they should leave Justin behind so we could keep going to school together, but they refused.

Now we’re going to be at camp together for four whole weeks. The idea is so exciting, I am afraid my head will explode before we even leave for the airport to get Justin.

I decide to check my e-mail, just to try to keep my head in one piece while I am waiting. I have only had e-mail for a few days . . . . . it was a reward for graduating from fourth grade.

My e-mail name is “Notacrayon.”

When I open the account, I see that there is a message from Brandi Colwin. It is addressed to me and Kelly Green.

This is another reason I am so sure Camp Cushetunk will be wonderful. Brandi and Kelly are my best friends from school, and they are going too. It should be great!

Brandi’s subject line is “Bulletin! Bulletin! Bulletin!”

She is practicing to be a newscaster, and this is her way of letting Kelly and me know that she has something important to tell us.

I open the e-mail, and groan.

Chapter Two

I don’t watch the news that much, but I see it more often now that Max is with us. And something I’ve noticed is that most of the news is bad.

Brandi’s e-mail is definitely something that belongs on the bad news channel.

OMG! I JUST FOUND OUT THAT HANNAH BURTON IS GOING TO CAMP CUSHETUNK!!

I want to beat my head against the keyboard. Hannah and I have been in school together forever, and we have never liked each other.

Hannah Burton is tinfoil on your teeth . . . . . . itching powder down your back . . . . . . a giant booger in your soup.

“What if we’re in a bunk with her?” I e-mail back.

Before Brandi can answer, Max calls, “Time to go to the airport!”

I am out of my chair, down the stairs, and into the car while Mom and Max are still getting their things together.

“I checked the flight,” Max says as he climbs into the driver’s seat. “It’s right on time.”

It feels like the airport is a million miles away. Every stop sign and traffic light makes me want to scream. I want to be there NOW.

Mom and Max are yakking away like this is just a normal ride. I realize they are talking about the movies they want to see while I am gone. I am not sure I like this . . . . . I think they should just stay home and miss me. I know that is silly, but I can’t always control how I feel about things.

When we finally get to the airport, we have to walk a billion zillion miles from the parking garage to where we are supposed to meet Justin. Because he is a kid traveling alone, one of the airplane people will walk him out to us.

I see him! But he is not looking for me. He is chatting away to the woman walking beside him. She is in a uniform and looks very official. She is also very beautiful. For some reason I find this very annoying.

Suddenly he turns in our direction. “Amber!” he cries, and runs toward me. Just like when he came up for Mom and Max’s wedding, we almost hug, and then stop.

I look at him. His hair has gotten longer, and he is even more tan than the last time I saw him. But he is still Justin. Then he smiles, and I see the big change. He has braces!

“This is Ms. Block,” Justin says. “She’s in training to be a pilot.”

Ms. Block shakes hands with Mom and Max and asks them for ID to make sure we are the people who are supposed to pick up Justin. Mom thanks her, and Ms. Block walks away. Justin watches her go.

I tap him on the shoulder. He turns back to me and says, “I think I want to be a pilot when I grow up.”

“Come on, flyboy,” Max says. “We need to get your luggage.”

“Was it scary traveling alone?” I ask Justin.

“No, it was kind of fun. Except they almost paid too much attention to me. But I had my own little TV set. That was cool!”

The luggage comes out on something called a carousel, which would make you think it was like a merry-go-round because it does go around and around. But there aren’t any horses. It’s a big oval that carries the suitcases and backpacks past the people waiting to claim them. I soooooo want to climb onto it and take a ride . . . . . . I bet it would be fun.

This is when I realize that Max is getting to know me a little too well. He looks down at me and says firmly, “Don’t even think about it!”

“That’s mine!” Justin says, pointing to a big trunk.

Max hauls it off the carousel. “Ooof! What did you pack in here? Your little brother?”

“I hope he’s not in there!” Justin says. “One of the reasons I wanted to go to camp was to get away from him!”

We laugh and head for the car.

When we get home, I say, “Come on, Justin. I’ll show you around the new house.”

“Great,” Mom says. “Max and I will start the grill. We’re having a barbecue to celebrate your last night at home before you go to camp.”

When we get to my room, I show Justin the place of honor in my closet where I keep our chewing gum ball.

We started making the ball way back in second grade. Justin was going to throw it out when he moved. That started our worst fight ever. I am glad we still have it. It proves that we will always stick together.

“I was afraid your mother might make you throw it away when you were moving,” he says.

About

Even when things don't go as planned, Amber Brown is always bold, bright, and colorful. #Amber Brown is out now on Apple TV+

Amber Brown is one happy camper. She and her best friend, Justin, are spending the summer at Camp Cushetunk. Learning to ride Cinnamon, the sweetest horse ever, is so amazing that Amber doesn’t even mind shoveling her poop.
 
Then Amber becomes the target of a series of pranks. Certain she knows who is behind them, Amber and her friends come up with the biggest prank ever to get revenge. But the outcome is not what they expect.

Turns out horsing around can lead to big trouble. But sometimes, Amber is surprised to learn, big trouble can lead to big changes for the better.

Author

© Sigrid Estrada
Paula Danziger grew up wanting to be an author . . . and then she became one.  She wrote over 25 books, traveled to more than 15 countries, and was the kind of colorful character you might find in one of her books. She loved to play, make new friends, and wear purple clothes and nail polish. Sadly, Paula Danziger passed away on July 8, 2004. Amber Brown—and the rest of her book characters—will continue to live on. View titles by Paula Danziger
© Jules
Bruce Coville is the author of 101 books for children and young adults, including the international bestseller My Teacher Is an Alien, and the wildly popular Unicorn Chronicles series. His works have appeared in over a dozen languages and won children’s choice awards in over a dozen states. He has been, at various times, a teacher, a toy maker, a magazine editor, a gravedigger, and a cookware salesman. He is also the founder of Full Cast Audio, an audiobook publishing company devoted to producing full-cast, unabridged recordings of material for family listening. Mr. Coville lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, author and illustrator Katherine Coville. Visit him at BruceCoville.com. View titles by Bruce Coville
© Marshall Marcovitz
"I grew up in Buffalo, New York. I loved to daydream, and through my fantasies I learned a lot about good writing. I had a crush on Elvis, and I made up what he would say to me. When I became a writer as an adult, I could make my daydreams almost come true. I put Elvis in several of my books. Kids have sent me pictures of Fletcher as Elvis. Principals have even dressed as Elvis when I visited their school.  

"I went to Brown University where I majored in history. After I graduated, I came to New York City and worked for ABC-TV and Radio, and then for Senator Robert Kennedy. My first book was written shortly after Senator Kennedy’s death. It was called The People Lobby. I wanted teenagers to know how exciting politics can be. After that, I began writing mysteries and novels. I have been writing and living in New York ever since. At certain times of the year, I can be found out at Shea Stadium watching, the New York Mets. And of course, I still daydream. Now I daydream that they will win the World Series again.

"Friendship and laughing are a big part of my life. I write a lot about characters and real people who make mistakes in their lives. Learning how to be loyal and to laugh at myself and with my friends and family is something I still work on. 

"When I’m alone and not writing, I love to hang out with my friends, bike around the city, but most of all I still love to read and daydream."

Elizabeth Levy cowrote (with Bruce Coville) three books in Paula Danziger's Amber Brown series. View titles by Elizabeth Levy
Anthony Lewis was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who transformed American legal journalism. He is the author of Gideon’s Trumpet which concerned Gideon v. Wainwright, the 1963 decision that guaranteed lawyers to poor defendants charged with serious crimes. His book Make No Law: The Sullivan Case and the First Amendment is an account of New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision that revolutionized American libel law. Lewis was a New York Times reporter at the Supreme Court from 1957 to 1964 and wrote an Op-Ed column for thirty years called “At Home Abroad” or “Abroad at Home” depending on where he was writing from . He also taught at the Harvard Law School where he was a Lecturer on Law from 1974 to 1989. He has also been the James Madison Visiting Professor at Columbia University. Anthony Lewis died in 2013 at the age of 85. View titles by Anthony Lewis

Excerpt

Chapter One

I, Amber Brown, am one happy camper.

This is a strange thing to say, because I have never been at camp . . . . . and I am not there now! Even so, I am a happy camper because I made it through fourth grade and tomorrow I am heading for Camp Cushetunk.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that first I have to pack.

I hate packing. There are too many choices to make!

I am looking at the pile of stuff on my bed when Mom and Max knock on my door.

I know it is both of them, because the door is open.

I have trained them to knock even when it is.

Max is my new stepfather. I was kind of rotten to him when he started to go out with Mom, but I kind of love him now.

“Come in,” I say.

Mom is carrying the packing list that the camp sent. I like lists. I especially like this one because there is a little box next to each item that you can check when you’ve taken care of it. This is very satisfying.

However, the list is missing things like “Gorilla” and “pig-taking-a-bubble-bath alarm clock/bank.” I think I have to leave those things at home. Not because I don’t want to have them with me . . . . . . . . it’s just that I don’t want the other campers to make fun of me for bringing them.

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what is too baby and what is all right.

Max holds up a plastic bag. “I just went to the drugstore, Amber. I think I got everything we still needed.”

I thought I liked lists, but I am nothing compared to Max. He LOVES lists.

He also loves labels. I think maybe the two things go together. He has had a fine time ironing name tags onto my shirts and shorts.

I didn’t let him do my underwear. I made Mom do that.

When I asked Max how he got so handy with an iron, he explained that it was a side effect of living alone for so many years.

Max starts to unpack the drugstore bag. He holds up a toothbrush. “You’re going to love this, Amber. It’s got a timer inside and it lights up after you’ve brushed for two minutes.”

Two minutes is how long the dentist wants me to brush, but I usually get bored before two minutes go by. The light is very cool.

Mom says, “Why don’t you go grab Amber’s towels, Max.”

While he is gone, she picks up one of my T-shirts and looks at the name tag. “Amber Brown. I love that I gave you such a colorful name.”

I love my name too. But I don’t love that Mom’s last name is no longer Brown. When she got married to Max, it became Turner.

Max comes back in and puts a stack of towels on the bed. Then he goes to my desk. “Make sure everything has a name tag on it before you pack it.”

“I don’t think the camp really meant everything,” Mom says. “No one puts a name tag on a tube of toothpaste.”

I look at Max and start to laugh. He has a tube of toothpaste in one hand and a fine-point Sharpie in the other. He drops the Sharpie and tries to pretend he wasn’t about to label my toothpaste.

“Busted!” I say.

Mom sighs. “Oh, Max. Next thing you know, you’ll be labeling her sticks of gum!”

I can’t tell whether she is amused or exasperated.

When the trunk is packed, they go downstairs.

“Don’t forget we’re leaving for the airport in fifteen minutes,” Mom calls over her shoulder.

Tonight, Justin Daniels, my very best friend ever, is flying up from Alabama. He is going to Cushetunk too! This is the best, best, best thing ever.

The reason it is the best, best, best thing ever is that I almost never get to see Justin anymore. That’s because of one of the worst, worst, worst things ever . . . . . . . his parents moved to Alabama! I thought they should leave Justin behind so we could keep going to school together, but they refused.

Now we’re going to be at camp together for four whole weeks. The idea is so exciting, I am afraid my head will explode before we even leave for the airport to get Justin.

I decide to check my e-mail, just to try to keep my head in one piece while I am waiting. I have only had e-mail for a few days . . . . . it was a reward for graduating from fourth grade.

My e-mail name is “Notacrayon.”

When I open the account, I see that there is a message from Brandi Colwin. It is addressed to me and Kelly Green.

This is another reason I am so sure Camp Cushetunk will be wonderful. Brandi and Kelly are my best friends from school, and they are going too. It should be great!

Brandi’s subject line is “Bulletin! Bulletin! Bulletin!”

She is practicing to be a newscaster, and this is her way of letting Kelly and me know that she has something important to tell us.

I open the e-mail, and groan.

Chapter Two

I don’t watch the news that much, but I see it more often now that Max is with us. And something I’ve noticed is that most of the news is bad.

Brandi’s e-mail is definitely something that belongs on the bad news channel.

OMG! I JUST FOUND OUT THAT HANNAH BURTON IS GOING TO CAMP CUSHETUNK!!

I want to beat my head against the keyboard. Hannah and I have been in school together forever, and we have never liked each other.

Hannah Burton is tinfoil on your teeth . . . . . . itching powder down your back . . . . . . a giant booger in your soup.

“What if we’re in a bunk with her?” I e-mail back.

Before Brandi can answer, Max calls, “Time to go to the airport!”

I am out of my chair, down the stairs, and into the car while Mom and Max are still getting their things together.

“I checked the flight,” Max says as he climbs into the driver’s seat. “It’s right on time.”

It feels like the airport is a million miles away. Every stop sign and traffic light makes me want to scream. I want to be there NOW.

Mom and Max are yakking away like this is just a normal ride. I realize they are talking about the movies they want to see while I am gone. I am not sure I like this . . . . . I think they should just stay home and miss me. I know that is silly, but I can’t always control how I feel about things.

When we finally get to the airport, we have to walk a billion zillion miles from the parking garage to where we are supposed to meet Justin. Because he is a kid traveling alone, one of the airplane people will walk him out to us.

I see him! But he is not looking for me. He is chatting away to the woman walking beside him. She is in a uniform and looks very official. She is also very beautiful. For some reason I find this very annoying.

Suddenly he turns in our direction. “Amber!” he cries, and runs toward me. Just like when he came up for Mom and Max’s wedding, we almost hug, and then stop.

I look at him. His hair has gotten longer, and he is even more tan than the last time I saw him. But he is still Justin. Then he smiles, and I see the big change. He has braces!

“This is Ms. Block,” Justin says. “She’s in training to be a pilot.”

Ms. Block shakes hands with Mom and Max and asks them for ID to make sure we are the people who are supposed to pick up Justin. Mom thanks her, and Ms. Block walks away. Justin watches her go.

I tap him on the shoulder. He turns back to me and says, “I think I want to be a pilot when I grow up.”

“Come on, flyboy,” Max says. “We need to get your luggage.”

“Was it scary traveling alone?” I ask Justin.

“No, it was kind of fun. Except they almost paid too much attention to me. But I had my own little TV set. That was cool!”

The luggage comes out on something called a carousel, which would make you think it was like a merry-go-round because it does go around and around. But there aren’t any horses. It’s a big oval that carries the suitcases and backpacks past the people waiting to claim them. I soooooo want to climb onto it and take a ride . . . . . . I bet it would be fun.

This is when I realize that Max is getting to know me a little too well. He looks down at me and says firmly, “Don’t even think about it!”

“That’s mine!” Justin says, pointing to a big trunk.

Max hauls it off the carousel. “Ooof! What did you pack in here? Your little brother?”

“I hope he’s not in there!” Justin says. “One of the reasons I wanted to go to camp was to get away from him!”

We laugh and head for the car.

When we get home, I say, “Come on, Justin. I’ll show you around the new house.”

“Great,” Mom says. “Max and I will start the grill. We’re having a barbecue to celebrate your last night at home before you go to camp.”

When we get to my room, I show Justin the place of honor in my closet where I keep our chewing gum ball.

We started making the ball way back in second grade. Justin was going to throw it out when he moved. That started our worst fight ever. I am glad we still have it. It proves that we will always stick together.

“I was afraid your mother might make you throw it away when you were moving,” he says.