Becky's hard-working mama and four older brothers and sisters try to surprise her on her eighth birthday. ‘An exceedingly warm and satisfying story of a [African-American] city family that is true to childhood.' 'NYT.

"Mama --" Becky said and waited. "My birthday's coming pretty soon. Will we have chicken-spaghetti and striped ice cream?"

Mama sighed and said, "I don't know, Becky. Things were a little better last year."

Not having something special to look forward to for a birthday was bad enough, but then the whole family seemed to turn against Becky. Life was lonely for the youngest in the family when everyone else started working on a project without her. Brother Abe even tried to keep her out of her own home during the day -- and playing baseball with Abe did not appeal to Becky.

This is a story about a very real family -- the ups and downs, the quarrels and making-ups, and it is a story of Becky's happy birthday.