Ruth McNally Barshaw

When Ellie McDougal's parents go out of town, she's forced to go on a camping trip with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, and her only chance for sanity is having her sketchbook with her.

Ellie pet-sits for her neighbor's African grey parrot Alix, about whom she's writing a report, while her family argues over whether to get a cat or a dog, and her little brother accidentally lets Alix out of his cage, all of which is chronicled in Ellie's ever-present sketchbook.

Ellie McDoodle is excited about starting a school newspaper and serving as editor, so when her friends and family convince her to run for class president--against her new crush, Jake--she is disappointed to have to give up the job temporarily, but is soon caught up in making posters and speeches and getting to know Jake better.