Cady and the Birchbark Box

In Cady and the Birchbark Box, Cady Whirlwind Thunder solves the mystery behind a weathered journal found inside an old birchbark box.  Why was the box buried behind a deserted garage?  This is the question her friend and "crush," John Ray Chicaug, asks Cady after the two of them find it.  And what meaning do the notes in the book have?  Cady's grandma and her ever-present companion, a noisy blue jay, encourage her as she puts together the pieces and ultimately restores the reputation of a deceased elder.  Cady does all this while navigating through another school year, earning a place on the school's soccer team and continuing to calm her temper and adjusting to life with a new stepmother and baby brother.