"Ida B...And Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World" by Katherine Hannigan tells the story of a young girl from Canada who was very happy with her life until her mother became ill. This event changed her world and she had to come to terms with relationship changes and life back in the school room away from nature.

Ida B. was very happy with her life. She stayed home with her mother, father, and her two pets, a cat and dog). Since she was home-schooled, she was able to embrace her own schedule, nature, and fun. Ida B. Was all about enjoying life. When her work was done, she would run out the door to explore. She would draw and talk with the brook and the trees. One day they warned her that something bad was headed her way, but she didn't know what they meant.

A few days later, things began to change in a household. Her parents were quieter than usual and Mama had an appointment with a doctor. They discovered that Mama had cancer. After she had surgery, she had to have treatments, and they made her very tired and ill. The house was unusually quiet.

One day, Ida B.'s father had a serious talk with her. He told her that they would have to sell part of the orchard to pay the medical bills. He also told her that because of his workload and her mother's illness, she would have to go back to school. This greatly distressed Ida B. and she could feel her heart turn into a rock. She decided not to show love to her parents, to hate school, and she even became angry at her friends in nature.

When she went back to school, Ida B. Discovered that it was very different from her previous school experience. Ms. Washington was a kind, loving teacher, and her classroom was filled with warm happiness. The students were nice as well. Still, Ida B. hardened her heart to it all, and tried to keep everyone away from her. She also tried to stay away from her parents as much as possible. When a family started building a house on the land her family had to sell, Ida B. tried to get rid of them by making signs to scare them off.

The signs didn't work. Ida B. discovered that the family moving in included a girl from her class named Claire. Both Claire and her little brother thought the signs were funny and it made Ida B. mad so she yelled at them until they cried. Claire told her that she was mean.

Back in school, Ida B. kept waiting for Claire to retaliate for her meanness. When the girl didn't, Ida B. began to realize that Claire might be right and it made her feel horrible. She apologized to Claire and her brother and then went to the orchard and apologized to her friends in nature. At school, she began to interact with the other children. At home, she reconnected with her parents, accepting their love for her, and showing her love back.