Ellen was a thin little girl, with dark hair and brown eyes. She wore bands on her teeth, and her hair was scraggly on the left side of her face, because she spent so much time reading and twisting a lock of hair around her finger as she read.

Ellen lives on Tillamook Street, in the same neighborhood as Otis Spofford, and not far from Ramona Quimby, and Henry Huggins. Unfortunately there are no girls her own age who live on Tillamook Street and Ellen is looking for a new best friend. "Of course, Ellen had lots of friends at school, but that was not the same as having a best friend who lived in the same neighborhood."

Then one day at dancing class Ellen meets Austine, and the two girls discover that they share a secret! Soon they become best friends ... until one day when Ellen makes a terrible mistake.

     Embarrassed and ashamed, Ellen walked to the cafeteria and bought her lunch. She knew everyone was talking about her. With flaming cheeks she carried her tray to a corner table and at alone. It did not take her long to finish her lunch. She was not hungry.

"Should she tell Austine she was sorry, or should Austine tell her she was sorry?" Can Ellen win her best friend back again? You'll have to read Ellen Tebbits to find out!