In this coming of age story that takes place in the mid 1950s, Margaret Louise Olson AKA Pumpkin, can't wait for the first day of sixth grade. This is the year she is determined to find her best friend and achieve some independence from her grandmother, who is helping her father raise her. Margaret, not only finds one best friend, but two. The threesome are drawn together by their losses, and they face prejudice, poverty, competition, bullying, family problems, low self-esteem,and loss."Growing Up Margaret" is a tender, heart-warming story that takes place in a small Northern Minnesota farm community and depicts well the people and time in history. It is similar to the "Little House" books and "Anne of green Gables." It is a wonderful book for middle school children and older, and it especially will be a book for baby boomers to relive their younger days.