Collette Murphy, eight years old, wishes she were an only child, and is surprised when her wish comes true for a day.

Collette's teacher has an accident and Collette's mother becomes the substitute, which leads to lots of embarrassment for Collette, especially when her mom starts a fire during a science lab

Collette is horrified that her friend Marsha is going to invite boys to her birthday party

While at camp Collette is desperate to retrieve her secret diary, which has been stolen and read out loud

Collette is excited about entering the sixth grade, but when her parents suddenly decide to move the family to a small island, Collette is treated like an outsider in her new school

Eager to join cute Mr. Kurlander's sixth grade class, Collette discovers that she is competing for his affections with most of the eighth grade girls. Reprint. K. SLJ. C.

Now available in paperback, this acclaimed title will appeal to the countless readers of the Murphy family books, as well as those unfamiliar with the zany bunch. Camp Murphy tells of the mishaps and adventures Collette and her friends encounter when they set up a day-camp for little kids. Collette is a wonderfully believable heroine.—Booklist.