The story revolves around the relationship between Julia and her new adopted sister Abby. Initially, Julia is not pleased with the arrival of Abby and tries various ways to get rid of her or make her look bad in front of their parents. However, as time passes, Julia's attempts fail, and Abby proves to be a kind and helpful sibling. Eventually, Julia starts to accept and appreciate Abby, and they develop a strong bond. The story showcases their transformation from rivals to close friends and sisters.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Julia has a dog named Barney.
2. Julia's parents bring home a new sister named Abby.
3. Julia is not happy about having a new sister.
4. Julia tries to get rid of Abby by putting her in the trunk of the car.
5. The family goes shopping together, but Julia tries to sabotage Abby's shopping experience.
6. Julia and Abby get into a fight at the shopping mall.
7. Julia tries to replace Abby with a doll.
8. Julia's plan fails, and Abby is found safe and sound.
9. The family goes to a play area, and Julia tries to get rid of Abby again.
10. Abby gets lost in a ball pit, but is rescued by her father.
11. Julia tries to switch Abby's ice cream with a different flavor.
12. Julia discovers that Abby has a severe allergy to a certain food.
13. Julia tries to cover up the fact that she fed Abby the allergenic food.
14. Julia's parents scold her for her behavior towards Abby.
15. Julia tries to retouch family photos to remove Abby from them.
16. Julia's plan is discovered by her mother, who is angry with her.
17. Julia is forced to fix the photos and apologize to her family.
18. Julia and Abby eventually become close friends.
19. Abby has a black belt in self-defense and uses it to defend herself and Julia against two strangers.
20. Julia breaks a family heirloom and is grounded by her parents.