Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

Sheila is not always likeable at first, which is exactly what makes the book work. She brags, bosses her new friends around and tells small lies to cover her fears. Over the summer, through a sleepover, day camp and those dreaded swimming lessons, she gradually discovers that the people around her like her better when she is honest. Her new friend Mouse, calm and kind, is a lovely counterpoint.

Blume captures the inner life of a ten-year-old with real sympathy. Readers who know Sheila only as Peter's annoying rival will enjoy seeing her from the inside, and many children will recognise her mix of bravado and worry. The family dog, which Sheila dreads, becomes a gentle source of comedy and, eventually, of growth.

The plot is a string of summer episodes rather than a single story, and some details feel old-fashioned. But the emotional truth holds up, and it remains a reassuring book for anxious children. It also stands on its own for readers who have not met the Hatchers. Parents may find it a useful starting point for talking about worries. About 176 pages in the Puffin paperback.