Amber Brown Horses Around

Amber Brown Horses Around

Even when things don't go as planned, Amber Brown is always bold, bright, and colorful. #Amber Brown is out now on Apple TV+ Amber Brown is one happy camper. She and her best friend, Justin, are spending the summer at Camp Cushetunk. Learning to ride Cinnamon, the sweetest horse ever, is so amazing that Amber doesn’t even mind shoveling her poop.   Then Amber becomes the target of a series of pranks. Certain she knows who is behind them, Amber and her friends come up with the biggest prank ever to get revenge. But the outcome is not what they expect. Turns out horsing around can lead to big trouble. But sometimes, Amber is surprised to learn, big trouble can lead to big changes for the better. Paula Danziger (1944-2004) was a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer who had a direct line into kids' hearts and funny bones. Bruce Coville lives in Syracuse, New York. Elizabeth Levy lives in New York City. Chapter One I, Amber Brown, am one happy camper. This is a strange thing to say, because I have never been at camp . . . . . and I am not there now! Even so, I am a happy camper because I made it through fourth grade and tomorrow I am heading for Camp Cushetunk. That’s the good news. The bad news is that first I have to pack. I hate packing. There are too many choices to make! I am looking at the pile of stuff on my bed when Mom and Max knock on my door. I know it is both of them, because the door is open. I have trained them to knock even when it is. Max is my new stepfather. I was kind of rotten to him when he started to go out with Mom, but I kind of love him now. “Come in,” I say. Mom is carrying the packing list that the camp sent. I like lists. I especially like this one because there is a little box next to each item that you can check when you’ve taken care of it. This is very satisfying. However, the list is missing things like “Gorilla” and “pig-taking-a-bubble-bath alarm clock/bank.” I think I have to leave those things at home. Not because I don’t want to have them with me . . . . . . . . it’s just that I don’t want the other campers to make fun of me for bringing them. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what is too baby and what is all right. Max holds up a plastic bag. “I just went to the drugstore, Amber. I think I got everything we still needed.” I thought I liked lists, but I am nothing compared to Max. He LOVES lists. He also loves labels. I think maybe the two things go together. He has had a fine time ironing name tags onto my shirts and shorts. I didn’t let him do my underwear. I made Mom do that. When I asked Max how he got so handy with an iron, he explained that it was a side effect of living alone for so many years. Max starts to unpack the drugstore bag. He holds up a toothbrush. “You’re going to love this, Amber. It’s got a timer inside and it lights up after you’ve brushed for two minutes.” Two minutes is how long the dentist wants me to brush, but I usually get bored before two minutes go by. The light is very cool. Mom says, “Why don’t you go grab Amber’s towels, Max.” While he is gone, she picks up one of my T-shirts and looks at the name tag. “Amber Brown. I love that I gave you such a colorful name.” I love my name too. But I don’t love that Mom’s last name is no longer Brown. When she got married to Max, it became Turner. Max comes back in and puts a stack of towels on the bed. Then he goes to my desk. “Make sure everything has a name tag on it before you pack it.” “I don’t think the camp really meant everything,” Mom says. “No one puts a name tag on a tube of toothpaste.” I look at Max and start to laugh. He has a tube of toothpaste in one hand and a fine-point Sharpie in the other. He drops the Sharpie and tries to pretend he wasn’t about to label my toothpaste. “Busted!” I say. Mom sighs. “Oh, Max. Next thing you know, you’ll be labeling her sticks of gum!” I can’t tell whether she is amused or exasperated. When the trunk is packed, they go downstairs. “Don’t forget we’re leaving for the airport in fifteen minutes,” Mom calls over her shoulder. Tonight, Justin Daniels, my very best friend ever, is flying up from Alabama. He is going to Cushetunk too! This is the best, best, best thing ever. The reason it is the best, best, best thing ever is that I almost never get to see Justin anymore. That’s because of one of the worst, worst, worst things ever . . . . . . . his parents moved to Alabama! I thought they should leave Justin behind so we could keep going to school together, but they refused. Now we’re going to be at camp together for four whole weeks. The idea is so exciting, I am afraid my head will explode before we even leave for the airport to get Justin. I decide to check my e-mail, just to try to keep my head in one piece while I am waiting. I have only had e-mail for a few days . . . . . it was a reward for graduating from fourth grade. My e-mail name is “Notacrayon.” When I open the account, I see that there is a message from Brandi Colwin. It is addre