BYCHERYL M. HAMILTON

Viva New Jersey

Viva New Jersey

Lucinda recently moved from Cuba to New Jersey with her family. She hasn’t made any friends yet, and she longs to be back in Cuba. Lucinda rescues an abandoned dog and brings him home, although pets are not allowed in the building where she lives. The dog causes the power in her building to go off and runs away. Lucinda searches for the dog. One of her classmates, a girl who also has trouble making friends, helps her. They become friends.

Compare and Contrast

To compare and contrast is to tell how two or more things are alike and how they are different.

Words to Know

corridorsdestinationgropingmenacing mongrelpersistedpleas

corridors

Long hallways; passages in a large building into which rooms open

destination

Place to which someone or something is going or is being sent

groping

Feeling about with the hands

menacing

Threatening

mongrel

Animal of mixed breed, especially a dog

persisted

Kept on; refused to stop or be changed

“You are fired!”

pleas

Request or appeals

Enjoy the story!