"I want them.

Beautiful earrings.

Glorious earrings.

What's a young girl supposed to do when her mom and dad refuseto let her have her ears pierced? She can argue, she can beg, shecan swear that-if only they'll say yes -- she'll be nice to herlittle brother for one whole year. And whether or not she persuadesthem, she can find herself in this true and funny tail of acharmingly persistent girl determined to have what she wants andneeds and loves: beautiful, glorious earrings for pierced ears.

Judith Viorst was born and brought up in NewJersey, graduated from Rutgers University, moved to GreenwichVillage, and has lived in Washington, D.C., since 1960, when shemarried Milton Viorst, a political writer. They have threesons--Anthony and Nick (who are lawyers) and Alexander (who doescommunity-development lending for a bank) and sevengrandchildren--Miranda, Brandeis, Olivia, Nathaniel, Benjamin,Isaac, and Toby. Viorst writes in many different areas: sciencebooks, children's picture books, adult fiction and non-fiction,poetry for children and adults, and three musicals, which are stillperformed on stages around the country.