Fuzzy Mud

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar,181 pages

Tamaya has to walk to and from school with her neighbor, Marshall.  However, Marshall has decided today to go home through the woods because another boy, Chad, threatened to beat him up.  The kids aren't supposed to go in the woods but Tamaya decides to follow Marshall because either way she'd be breaking the rule.  Unfortunately, Chad also finds them in the woods and tries to make good on his threat.  Tamaya is scared but picks up a handful of mud and throws it in his face, giving her and Marshall time to get away.  Later that night Tamaya gets a rash on her hand.  And the next day Chad isn't at school.  This was a lot scarier and less funny than Sachar's usual books but it was a great story and I would recommend it to any elementary age kid that likes realistic fiction.