Angela Terlizzi

Angela is a bright and cheerful girl who immigrated from Italy to the United States. She moves to Daytona Beach, Florida in 1954 with her family and joins Maryellen Larkin's class under Mrs. Humphrey. She and Maryellen become friends after they are paired up for after-lunch studies so that Maryellen can help Angela with her English and practice her handwriting at the same time. Angela in turn teaches Maryellen some Italian words and helps her with European georgraphy. At first, the other children dislike Angela due to her strange appearance (pointing out her long braids and pierced ears) as well as her heritage, as World War II had only ended the previous decade and some students (such as Karen Stohlman) had lost family members in that war. However, her charm and helpful attitude swiftly wins them over. Angela is incredibly cheerful, and is almost always smiling. She is very proud of her Italian heritage, shining like the sun when she can point out her home country on the map and happily teaching Maryellen her language. She is also very smart, learning English quickly and being the first person to give Maryellen and practical and useful solution to her short bang-cut. Angela is able to make friends quickly, as seen when she won over Karen Stohlman during the Georgraphy Bee, and she is incredibly helpful, "endlessly patient" and complimentary. She doesn't like fights and doesn't easily get mad, and is also honest enough to speak her mind when she is disappointed. She has a love of dogs, and owns a spaniel named Amerigo. She lives with her parents and grandmother, Nonna, and visits her Italian family over the summer. She loves snow and misses being able to experience it. Angela is described as a "math whiz," and enjoys singing and dancing the jitterbug, and is interested in baton-twirling. She is also a fan of Audrey Hepburn and a new recruit to the Girl Scouts.