Dreams of Victory

This is probably the most important book I read in my childhood. It is a bit disappointing that Ellen Conford's book isn't as widely read today as Judy Blume's works are. Dreams of Victory revolves around sixth grader, Victory Benneker, who seems to keep coming up short in class elections and school play auditions. She's self-conscious about her short brown hair while her arch-nemesis, Sharon Webb has the longest, blondest hair in the school. Victory survives each challenge through her imagination. Instead of being too scared to ride a ferris wheel, she dreams of being an astronaut. After being embarrassed by her poor dancing skills, she fantasizes about performing a show-stopping dance number in the Miss Galaxy Beauty Contest. I believe this book speaks to all kids, although especially girls on the cusp of adolescence, who needs a good laugh and, perhaps, a confidence booster. I would reccommend it to everyone, although I would absolutely insist that anyone who wants to be a writer or would like to instill the writing bug in their children read this wonderful book.