Upper Elementary Book Review discussion

Jess Aaron is determined to become the fastest runner at school. However, a new kid - a girl named Leslie - comes along and outruns him. They begin an unlikely friendship and create a magical kingdom in the woods where they reign as king and queen. However, when Leslie unexpectedly dies, Jess must come to grips with this tragic loss and then realizes what Leslie has truly given him.

This is a very emotionally charged story. If you have students who have recently experienced an unexpected or tragic death in their lives, I would not recommend this book. Otherwise, it's fabulous and has held up well against the test of time (it's a 1978 Newberry Award winner).