Alexandra Penfold refuses to be anything more than what she is-the world's biggest tomboy. She even tried out for the middle school football team. Alex knows she is different than all the other girls in her grade; they would rather sit around talking about boys, makeup, and the homecoming dance than play make-believe or jump on the trampoline. Known around school for not fitting in and for being a regular guest in the principal's office, Alex just wants to spend her free time playing with her dog, Yippy, and her cat, Creamy, who happen to love her just the way she is. Her older brother, Jeremy, used to play with her as well, but nothing has been the same for Alex since Jeremy died in an accident two years ago. Still, things start to look up as Alex makes a new friend at school; everything seems to be going better. But then something terrible happens that makes Alex miss Jeremy more than ever. Now this fifth grader struggling to be herself must learn that the best gift in life is a friend who listens.