My Girl

Vada Sultenfuss, a 12-year-old girl obsessed with death, struggles to cope with the loss of her mother and the fact that her father runs a funeral parlor. Her fascination with mortality is only matched by her secret crush on her English teacher, which leads her to join a summer poetry class in an attempt to impress him. Meanwhile, her best friend, Thomas J., who is "allergic to everything," sticks by her side despite her dark preoccupation. But when Vada's father hires Shelly, a young woman who quickly becomes a part of their lives—and his romantic interest—Vada's world is turned upside down. As jealousy and confusion take root, Vada is forced to confront her fears, her relationships, and the overwhelming reality of growing up.