
When Christmas rolls around, Fudge suggests that everyone in the family write letters to Santa Claus. Peter feels that his younger siblings take up most of his parents’ time and attention, and this sometimes makes him feel left out. Peter is still struggling to cope with the fact that he misses his friends in New York and is having trouble dealing with Fudge’s troublesome behavior, which Peter often finds selfish and immature. There is even a girl called Joanne in his class whom he immediately finds interesting. Peter makes the most of his summer, and when school starts in the fall, he realizes that he likes his new teacher a lot. Peter’s dad has plans to research and write a book. Peter’s dad is struggling to find his feet in the new environment and to get his new project underway, it being the main reason for their move. Peter is doing remarkably well in spite of his annoying little brother Fudge who is constantly misbehaving and taunting their younger sister Tootsie in ways that make their mom and dad angry. He finds ways to cope with the big change and to enjoy his new life in New Jersey. Things actually seem to be falling into place for him in his new hometown.

Although Peter is determined not to like it, he quickly makes a new friend, Alex. Peter and his family arrive in Princeton at the beginning of the summer. Once again, he plans to run away, but then at the last minute agrees to go along with their plans. Once again, Peter feels betrayed by their failure to consult him in such a monumental decision. His family is leaving New York City and moving to Princeton, New Jersey.

Just as he is getting used to the idea of the new addition to the family, Peter receives another piece of startling news. He plans to run away, but the smell of his mother cooking dinner convinces him to stay, at least for one more night.īefore long, the new baby arrives, and Peter finds out that he has a new little sister named Tootsie. Overcome with emotion, Peter feels that he must take drastic action.

Peter already has a four-year-old brother, Fudge, and he worries that his new brother or sister might be as much of a pain to live with as Fudge is. He is upset that his parents did not think to check with him before bringing another baby into the family.

Although his parents seem thrilled, he does not take this news well. At the beginning of the novel, Peter receives some upsetting news from his mother: She is pregnant, and he is going to have a sibling.
