Chrissa Stands Strong


 * This article is about the book. For the movies, see Chrissa Stands Strong (movie).

Chrissa Stands Strong is the second book about Chrissa Maxwell.

Facts

 * Author: Mary Casanova
 * Illustrator: Richard Jones
 * First published: 2009

Characters

 * Chrissa Maxwell
 * Gwen Thompson
 * Sonali Matthews
 * Nana: Chrissa's grandmother. Raises mini-llamas.
 * Meg Maxwell: Chrissa's mother, a doctor.
 * Paul Maxwell: Chrissa's father, a potter who runs Maxwell Pottery.
 * Tyler Maxwell: Chrissa's brother, who is older by eleven months.
 * Tara: the leader of the Mean Bees.
 * Jadyn: one of the Mean Bees.

Chapter One: Back-to-School Shopping
Chrissa and her mother go shopping for new clothes for school. As Chrissa is trying on an outfit, Tara comes and complements Chrissa. Chrissa is shocked that Tara is actually talking to her in a nice way. Tara then suggests that she and Chrissa forgive each other and become friends. Chrissa is confused and sort of happy as she leaves the store.

Chapter Two: New Beginnings
Chrissa and her brother Tyler are swimming in the lake by their house. Tyler is showing off about his dives, much to his sister's annoyance. Then Gwen and Sonali show up and swim with Chrissa. When they come out of the water, Chrissa tells Gwen and Sonali what Tara had said back in the mall aobut being friends. Gwen and Sonali tell Chrissa to don't trust Tara and that Tara could be lying. Chrissa is unconvinced. Later on, after Chrissa, Gwen, and Sonali finish building the stall for one of Chrissa's llamas, someone sends Sonali a text message. It said "Watch out for Chrissa, the llama-faced girl!" Chrissa doesn't believe it at first, then suspects Tyler. Sonali and Gwen think it was Tara. Chrissa tries to tell them that there was no proof that Tara sent it, but her friends aren't sure.

Chapter Three: Repairs
Chrissa and her family add the finishing touches to the barn for Chrissa's llama, who is going to have a baby. Her father lets Chrissa and Tyler hang out with their friends for the rest of the day. Chrissa calls Gwen and Sonali. Tyler calls his friend Joel. The 5 of them have a water balloon fight on rafts on the lake. Tyler sleeps over at his Joel's house while Chrissa and her friends have a camp out at her house. Chrissa is still trying to prove that Tara is willing to be nice, but Gwen and Sonali think Chrissa's crazy.

Chapter Four: Tryouts
Chrissa's mom wakes the gils(Chrissa, Gwen, and Sonali)up from their camp out to go to try outs for the swimming team. Chrissa and her friends bike to the try outs. Gwen doesn't try out because she isn't a strong swimmer, but becomes assistant coach. Chrissa realizes that there are a lot of people there, but tries her best and hopes she makes the team. In the changing rooms, Tara smiles and compliments Chrissa. Chrissa insists to Gwen and Sonali that Tara is now a sweet girl. They still don't believe Chrissa.

Chapter Five: Shifting Breezes
Chrissa and her friends find out the results form yesturday's try out. Her brother Tyler made the diving and swim team, and so did Chrissa. Sonali makes the swimming and diving team along with Tara. On the way back, Chrissa starts thinking about friendships with Tara. The 3 girls go out on the lake in a sailboat. Gwen and Sonali laugh at calling Tara "Boom-Boom", but Chrissa objects. Then, accidentally, Chrissa knocks Gwen and Sonali off the boat. Chrissa takes a long time to reach shore and finds out that Gwen and Sonali left.

Chapter Six: Taking Sides
Chrissa is having tea with her grandmother(Nana)and reading about llamas. Chrissa and Nana show the expecting mother llama(Cosmos) to the new barn. Gwen comes over and talks with Chrissa about the swim team. Chrissa finds out that she would be put on the relay team with Tara and Sonali. Then Sonali comes with bad news that someone posted a horrible message about Sonali on the school's team message board online. They wrote that Sonali had a horrible skin disease that might infect other swimmers and shouldn't be allowed to swim. Sonali starts to cry and knows it was Tara. Chrissa defends Tara. Gwen and Sonali decide to take a break from Chrissa and leave her house that moment.

Chapter Seven: Tangles
Chrissa goes up in her room to cry. Then she dials Tara's phone number and start to talk. Chrissa invites Tara to her house on Saturday. Tara seems pleased. On Saturday, Cosmos is ready to give birth. Chrissa and her family watch. After the baby is born. Chrissa and her family cries happily and silently. Then Tara comes with a loud arrival, but then quiets down when she sees the baby llama. Chrissa feels sad that Gwen and Sonali aren't there. Then Tara and Chrissa practice diving in the lake with Tyler. It goes well. After Tara goes home, Sonali calls and finds out that Tara was at Chrissa's house and saw the baby llama first. Chrissa tries to apologize, but makes Sonali really mad and hangs up.

Chapter Eight: Dark, Dreary, Dismal Day
Chrissa walks into her grandfather's library and checks the computer. To her horror, she finds 2 new messages posted on the school swim team website. One of them said that Gwen was stupid and shouldn't be the assistant coach if she can't add 2+2. The other said that Sonali's ugly long hair should be cut off because it could get caught in the pool drain. One of the e-mails that Sonali sent Chrissa suggested that maybe Chrissa did this by being friends with Tara. Chrissa is heartbroken and says she didn't do it. Chrissa goes outside to be with the llamas and begins to cry.

Chapter Nine: Teamwork
Chrissa didn't feel hungry that night. The next morning at practice, Tara greets Chrissa, but Chrissa responds quietly. Chrissa feels horrible about the messages and that Gwen and Sonali thought she did it. Before they start practice, the coach explains cyber-bullying and everything that's been going on online. Now, no one can write any message without showing it to the coach first. The coach puts Chrissa, Sonali, Tara, and Rachel on one team. It goes well. In the changing room, Chrissa confronts Tara about the messages. Tara said she didn't do anything. Chrissa finds out that Tara and Sonali used to go shopping together for clothes over the summer. Then Chrissa knew why Tara seemed kinder. Chrissa is confused about who the bully is writing the messages.

Chapter Ten: Ugly Messages
Chrissa finds out that someone had posted a horrible message about her. It was a picture of Chrissa all marked up with a black marker, stating that Chrissa is the ugliest girl in the world. Chrissa begins to cry. She goes and tells her father all that's been going on. He gives her a piece of clay to work on to relive stress. Chrissa then tells her mother about it too. Chrissa's parents decide to put a stop to it. They tell Chrissa that it's going to be ok and take her inside for dinner. Chrissa feels relived that she is getting help.