Lia Leads

by Carson Sands
illustrated by Margeaux Lucas
 Lia Leads
by Carson Sands
illustrated by Margeaux Lucas

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ISBN 10: 0-15-350450-1

ISBN 13: 978-0-15-350450-1

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ISBN 10: 0-15-350333-5 (Grade 3 Below-Level Collection)
ISBN 13: 978-0-15-350333-7 (Grade 3 Below-Level Collection)
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ISBN 13: 978-0-15-357460-3 (package of 5)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 179 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
 “Lia!” called Mom. “You’re going
to be late!”
Lia sat in her room. Everything
seemed the same, but it wasn’t.
Sam, Lia’s best friend, had moved
away.

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 “Don’t worry, Lia,” Mom said.
“You have lots of other friends.”
“I know,” Lia murmured sadly.
Sam was her best friend. They
had always known each other and
done everything together.

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 Sam was so much fun. She came
up with new games. She made up
stories, and she even wrote plays.
Loyal Lia followed along. She
recited the lines Sam made up, and
she sang songs that Sam wrote. She
modeled a costume that Sam made.
Now what would she do?
5

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 The classroom was fi lled with voices.
“Hi, Lia,” said Alice sweetly.
Lia tried to smile. “Hi, Alice.”
“Are you signing up for basketball
this year?” asked Alice.
“I don’t know,” said Lia.
“You defi nitely should!” said Alice.

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 Lia wasn’t sure. Sam had been a
great basketball player and had led
the team. Lia wasn’t sure she wanted
to play without her.
“All right, class!” said Mr. Harris.
“Let’s get into our groups.”

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 Lia sat with her group. They were
making a map of a town.
“We need a park,” said Jen.
“The fi rehouse needs to be in the
center,” said Carl.
“What do you think, Lia?”
asked Flora.

8
 Sam had always had the good ideas.
Lia suddenly felt shy.
“Whatever you want,” said Lia.
The rest of the week was the same.
She didn’t lead a song in music, or
choose a book for the class. Sam
would have done both.

9
 Hi Lia! s
y n e w school i
M ou can
h o p e y
fun! I
on.
visit so

Lia got a note from Sam.

“Hi, Lia!” wrote Sam. “My new
school is fun! I hope you can visit
soon.”
“I am having fun, too,” Lia wrote
back. “Basketball won’t be the same
without you. I hope you can visit
soon, too.”
10

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 The next day, Lia walked slowly
into the gym.
“What a coincidence!” said Coach
Parker. “I was just thinking about you.
You are going to play point guard.”
Lia was shocked. That was Sam’s
position, and the point guard was the
leader of the team.
“No, I can’t,” replied Lia.
“Yes, you can,” said Coach Parker
in a pleasant voice. “Let’s get to work.”

11
 Lia tried, but she felt shy calling out
plays. She didn’t want to direct the
other girls.
Soon it was time for their fi rst game.
A player on the other team missed a
basket. Lia grabbed the ball and ran
down the court. No one was guarding
Alice, so Lia passed her the ball.

12

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 Now the other team had the ball.
Lia told Flora to guard the tall girl near
the basket. Then Lia blocked a shot.
She grabbed the ball and ran for
their basket.
Lia aimed. She shot the ball, and
it rolled into the basket. The crowd
cheered!
13

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 That evening, Lia wrote to Sam.
She told her how she had led the team.
She described the cheers of the crowd.
“That’s great!” wrote Sam. “I hope
I’ll get to see you play. You’re a born
leader, Lia.”
Lia smiled. “I guess I am.”

Dear
That Lia,
I’ll ge ’s great!
play t to see I hope
.
lead You’re a you
er, L born
Your ia
frien .
d, S
am

14
 Think Critically
1. How does Lia change during this story?

2. How would you describe Sam?

3. Do you think Sam was a good friend to Lia?

Why or why not?

4. Why does Coach Parker say it is a coincidence

when he sees Lia?

5. What is the setting of the most important scene

in this story? Why?

Social Studies
Make a List In this story, Lia learns about how she can be
a leader. What do you think makes a good leader? Make a list
of your ideas.

School-Home Connection Lia changed when

her best friend moved, and she had to learn to be on
her own. What is something that made you change? Share it
with a family member.

Word Count: 527

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