AustLit

'Rachel's cousin, Cassie, starts to socialise with Rachel and her friends. Cassie is a nice enough girl, but she's very different from Rachel and Sophie. She's into make-up, clothes and staying up late, whereas Rachel and Sophie are more interested in sport, movies and early training sessions. The differences between them gradually become more obvious, causing friction, until Cassie eventually loses interest in the group and moves on. Rachel and Sophie go to the Netball Regional Screening Day and perform well. They both receive invitations to attend the next Zone Talent Camp, but Sophie's mother is diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time. This news places enormous stress on the family and it looks as though Sophie will have to miss out on the camp. Daniel suggests they organise a car wash to raise money for some home help so that Sophie can still go. Rachel still joins in the car wash, even though Daniel has been distancing himself from her and she's not sure why. Rachel and Sophie attend the Zone Talent Camp, where Rachel clashes with the head coach and thinks she has been left out of the squad as a result. It turns out that the coach was driving her to see what she could achieve under pressure. Rachel is offered a scholarship to the Victorian Institute for Sport. Ages 9+' (Publication abstract)