Julia Gillian (And the Art of Knowing)

Julia Gillian (And the Art of Knowing) by McGhee, Alison. mass_market edition. ISBN: 9780545033497.

Nine-year-old Julia Gillian is a girl of many accomplishments. Among other things, she is skilled in the Art of Knowing-about her quirky neighbours, her Minneapolis neighbourhood, even the inscrutable "claw machine" in the 1back of the corner hardware store. Unfortunately, the one thing Julia Gillian doesnt know is how the book shes reading is going to end; it doesnt seem as if its going to have a happy ending, and that scares her. But being afraid teaches her something new: that having good friends and family around you makes life a bit less scary-and much more fun.