This was the only Fripsey book I didn't get to read when I was a girl. I was 34 when I spotted it in a library used books sale and I was just thrilled. I thought it was great the first time I read it and still feel the same way.

Marcy Prescott is an only child who lives with her parents and her great-aunt (who isn't really as sour as she pretends) on the edge of town. One rainy summer day the vacant house next door stops being vacant. It's filled with Fripseys! Besides the parents, there are four boys, four girls, three dogs, four cats, two canaries, tropical fish, and a very nice great-grandmother. One of the girls, Patty, is Marcy's age.

Marcy and her mother go over to the 15-room shabby Victorian house to offer the Fripseys some hot tea. Instead, they wind up sitting on boxes and being served tea that was brewed in a clean china flowerpot and poured into anything clean and handy because the box with dishes hasn't been found yet. At least they had those packing crates to break up to start a fire. Great-aunt Partridge uses comic book noises to predict what living next door to the lively Fripseys will be like.

The family is used to doing things for themselves, which is just as well. They can't afford to hire people. The oldest boys keep their big rattletrap of a car going. All of the kids, except Baby, of course, get to paint and decorate their bedrooms. The family makes a contest of it. Marcy, who knows how to mix colors because her mother is a painter, helps out.

Then there's school. Sixth graders Marcy and Patty have one of the most beloved teachers, dear old Miss Dinwoody. Marcy is certain that this will be the best school year ever -- until new girl Gwynn Gilson joins their class.

Gwynn has been a city girl. Her father owns the local department store. Gwynn is very pretty, has very nice clothes, and gets very good grades. She's so patronizing about Mayville and Mayville ways. That superior smile of hers is hard to take. Gwynne shows that she hasn't the foggiest idea what class spirit means within the first week. Marcy and Patty can't stand her, especially after what she did regarding the school Christmas tree!

Still, Gwynne doesn't manage to spoil all their fun. There's sledding and ice skating that winter. Marcy and Patty start a larger girls' club after Gwynn and her three friends form the GEMS. Which girl's act will win the prize at the school gets to hold a winter carnival?

Another example of the Fripseys' homemade fun what they do to and in the attic. That's one of the scenes where their head cat, General Custer, gets to strut his stuff. (What he did to the oldest girl's dance date made me laugh.)

All year Marcy has been wanting to get the better of Gwynn at something. What Gwynn did to her and Patty at the school picnic was the last straw! Now Marcy has her chance. She's found out something that could ruin that brat. Will Marcy tell?

The Fripsey books are stuffed with good fun and good people. They're the literary equivalent of coming in from the cold to find a cup of cocoa and your favorite soup waiting for you. ( )