Sandra Belton

Amanda can't believe it when Ernestine shows up at the piano teacher's house for lessons. Everyone knows Ernestine can't read music. She can only play by ear. And even worse, Ernestine begins talking and laughing with Amanda's best friend. The two ten-year-olds have never gotten along, and Amanda intends to keep it that way. But music lessons and the really annoying fact that Ernestine's brother is dating Amanda's sister keep throwing the two together....

Ernestine and Amanda, two African-American girls growing up in the 1950s, go away to different summer camps and make discoveries about what they can expect from themselves and other people.