Just Plain Al

Book excerpt: Al is finally turning fourteen, and this birthday is going to bring a lot of changes—starting with a new name! Al has reached the most important point in her life: her fourteenth birthday. Her biggest worry is how boring her life has been so far—nothing exciting has ever happened to her. What if nothing ever does? What’s more, she no longer feels like an Al, but she still hates her real name, Alexandra. She needs to find a more dignified name—and fast—so that she can unveil the new her in time for her birthday. With her new name and her newfound adulthood, Al wants to start leading a meaningful life. But it turns out that saving the world is a little harder than it sounds—even for a girl like Al.