The Scrambled States of America

The Scrambled States of America is a book published by Laurie Keller. It is her very first book.

## Plot

Sam greets the reader and allows us to hear a story from him about this fine country of ours. Ohio and Colorado want to hear it, but Sam orders them to go back to their places before the story begins. It all begins one morning in the good old U.S. of A, when the states are waking up, having breakfast, and enjoying the beautiful sunrise. All the states, that is, except for Kansas, who isn't feeling happy at all. Nebraska asks him what's wrong. Kansas claims he just feels bored, because all day long he just sits there in the middle of the country. He never goes anywhere and he never gets to see any NEW states. Nebraska then states that he is sick and tired of hearing North Dakota and South Dakota bickering all the time, but this gives Kansas an idea. He decides to have a potluck party and invite all the other states. They could bring favorite dishes and have music from a band. Nebraska shrieks happily and agrees with Kansas' idea. So they, along with the help of Missouri and Iowa, plan the biggest party ever. At last, the big day comes. Kansas and Nebraska's job is to welcome guests at the party. This is where the "fun" begins. As the day continues and after all the states arrive at the big party, they begin making friends with each other. As for Nevada, he becomes lovestruck with Mississippi. Idaho and Virginia are then chatting about thinking it might be fun if they switched places, so they could see another part of the country. Virginia suggests that the other states would like to try it, too. The other states are liked by this idea and can hardly wait, so they make plans to switch places. The next morning, the states are all mixed-up moved to another part of the country. This is a much better arrangement, but after a couple days have passed and all of the excitement has died down, a bunch of problems begin to occur. For example, Florida, who switched with Minnesota, was freezing in the northern climate, and Minnesota, who forgot to buy sunscreen got an awful sunburn. And worst of all, Kansas is all alone in the Pacific Ocean, where Hawaii used to be. Despite that he used to be sick and tired of being stuck in the middle of the country, he is now stuck in the middle of nowhere. There is no question in any state's minds about what to do. Everyone wants to go home. In time, the states properly "unscramble" and are back with their original neighbors in map form. Back in their old home, the states are happy to see their old friends again. They chat about the good and bad times that happened in the time they switched places. Late at night, when all the states from the country go to bed, they go to bed and are happy about the new friends they made, and most thankful to be home. The book ends with a cast list of all fifty states. What follows is a page of symbols from each state in America, including its capital, Washington D.C.

## Video edits

* In the beginning, after Idaho says "Do you mind?", she hides the book title behind her.
* On page 3, because the video adaptation, Sam says "I'm assuming since you're here" instead of "I'm assuming since you opened this book".
* When Sam counts to one thousand three (before the story begins), the numbers 1001, 1002, and 1003 appear one by one during the count.
* On page 4, instead of saying "OK, turn the page please!", Sam says "OK, let's get started!"
* On page 5, Hawaii doesn't say "Wake up, sleepyheads!" She is still sleeping, along with her small islands.
* On page 6, Massachusetts is holding a tennis racket.
* When Kansas says "I'm not feeling happy at all!", he is on page 7.
* On page 10, after Kansas says "I have a GREAT idea!", a bird takes out a ruler and says "Wow! His smile is 285 miles wide!". That was in the video adaptation. In the book, the bird did not appear, but the said quote ("HIS SMILE IS 285 MILES WIDE!") was in a white box, as if to be a disembodied word bubble.
* On page 13:
	+ A fork appears and Tennessee picks it up.
	+ New Mexico is cartwheeling in place instead of twirling upside-down.
* On page 14, Nebraska says "Glad you could make it!"
* On page 16:
	+ The states who say the red dialogue texts are:
		- Mississippi: "Oh, yes!"
		- Texas: "What a grand idea!"
		- Maine: "We should have done this YEARS ago!"
	+ New Mexico is not smiling when he packs a cactus.
	+ Kansas's design when he says "I am outta here!" is from page 9.
* On page 18:
	+ Some of the states' dialogues are muted.
		- Arkansas: "Lovely!"
		- Alaska: "Wanna hear a joke?"; Michigan: "Sure!"
		- West Virginia: "Hey!"; Michigan's upper peninsula: "Hi!"
		- Indiana: "Hi there!"; South Carolina: "Nice to meet you!"
		- Penny: "Oh, dear."
	+ California and Wisconsin sing Home On The Range.
* Nebraska's design, when he experiences sea creatures and gets frightened by a shark in the ocean, is from page 9.
* Florida sneezes on page 19.
* California and Wisconsin's design, when California reveals to be lactose intolerant, is from page 18.
	+ So is Tennessee's design, when she is shrouded in the rain.
* Texas, Virginia, and Maine are drawn differently when Texas sneezes.
* On page 20, Sam trades his head design back from page 3.
* Page 22 happens before 21.
* On page 22, Hawaii shouts "I can't stand it!"
* The background music that plays in page 22 resembles Little Richard's *Good Golly Miss Molly*.
* When Illinois calls for an airline ticket, her "mmmhmmm..." is replaced by a laugh.
* On page 24:
	+ Montana and Oregon ride past Nevada and Mississippi, saying "Come on, Nevada!"
	+ Kansas swims while singing "Home, I'm going home."
* On page 26, after Michigan says "This is a classic!", he reads the t-shirt aloud.

## Repeated words

Some words are said a set amount of times in this book:

"Thanks" is said seven times:

1. Alabama says it when Louisiana gives her toothpaste.
2. Wisconsin says it when Iowa checks out her coat.
3. New Mexico says