Ten Rules for Living With My Sister by Ann M. Martin

Ten Rules for Living With My Sister by Ann M. Martin
Feiwel and Friends
2011
228p.

Nine-year-old Pearl and her popular, thirteen-year-old sister, Lexie, do not get along very well, but when their grandfather moves in and the girls have to share a room, they must find common ground

The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer

The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer
Dutton Children's Books
2011
294p.

Twelve-year-olds Duncan Dorfman, April Blunt, and Nate Saviano meet at the Youth Scrabble Tournament where, although each has a different reason for attending and for needing to win, they realize that something more important is at stake than the grand prize.

You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White

You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White
Delacorte Press
2011
258p.

Forced to flee a small North Carolina town when the neighbors suspect they are aliens, sixth-grader Meggie Blue and her family leave Earth and arrive in Fashion City, where individuality is punished and the greatest crime is being "grossly unique."

Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine
Philomel Books
2011
237p.

Fourteen-year-old Mike, whose father is a brilliant mathematician but who has no math aptitude himself, spends the summer in rural Pennsylvania with his elderly and eccentric relatives Moo and Poppy, helping the townspeople raise money to adopt a Romanian orphan.

Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Scholastic Press
2011
312p

Hard Kind of Promise by Gina Willner-Pardo

Hard Kind of Promise by Gina Willner-Pardo

Clarion Books
2010
200 pgs.

Summary

California seventh-graders Sarah and Marjorie made a promise in kindergarten to always be friends, but Marjorie is weird and Sarah, wanting to be at least somewhat popular, makes friends with a fellow choir member.