Everything changes at the start of Emily Ann Campbell's year as a sixth grader in Missouri in 1938. Her teacher is new, and a man (Mr. Van). Her best friend has moved away and she has feels lonely. But the year proves to be exciting for Emily because Mr. Van - having heard her say she wanted to do something different this year, something she would be remembered for - challenges her to write poetry. She has always loved poetry, but now has to write it, and finds that when you look at life as a poet things change. In the end, Mr. Van sends one of her poems to a national grade-school poetry contest and she wins honorable mention and has her poem printed in a book. This makes both her and her sixth-grade year memorable.
