Goodbye Mrs. Jessop

Book excerpt: When Casey's sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Jessop, is killed in an automobile accident over the Christmas school holiday, Casey is not able to accept her teacher's death. She magnifies her friendship with Mrs. Jessop and makes life miserable for Ms. Springer, the substitute teacher. Casey reacts negatively and dramatically to Ms. Springer's friendly hug leading her best friend, Emily, to report it as abuse to the school principal. The misunderstanding is cleared up, but the incident helps Ms. Springer decide to leave teaching. Casey's friendship with Emily is damaged as she learns that people have to accept the consequences of their behavior. After Casey meets a courageous man with Multiple Sclerosis and his wife who run a riding stables including programs for disabled riders, Casey begins to focus on positive directions for her own life. Later, when Casey is able to see Mrs. Jessop's horse, Magic, and his new owner, she begins to understand that life goes on in spite of grief and mistakes.