Newbery medalist Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's best-selling series of books arrive on the big screen in director Sandy Tung's tale of an eleven year old girl who attempts to find her footing in a new school while avoiding the wrath of her loathsome homeroom teacher - the dreaded Mrs. Plotkin. Alice McKinley (Alyson Stoner) has just relocated to a new town with her widowed father Ben (Luke Perry) and her seventeen year old brother Lester (Lucas Grabeel). As the only girl in an all-male household Alice envisions herself as a girl who can hold her own, yet in reality she's just another stressed out teen who excels at getting herself into awkward situations. Alice misses her mother dearly, but with the support of her family she holds out hope that she'll get by no matter what curve balls life throws her way. But lately nothing is going right for Alice. As the school musical looms on the horizon, Alice is about to learn that even the detestable Mrs. Plotkin (Penny Marshall) may have some helpful advice if the young girl can stop casting judgment long enough to listen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi