ELEVEN

Myracle displays a good ear for the words, emotions, and angst of a tween as she takes young heroine Winnie Perry from her 11th to 12th birthdays. Oh, the changes—or, in some case, the fear of same—one year can bring. What’s up with a best friend whose interests (boys, for example) suddenly exceed those of Winnie’s and who just may be latching on to a new best bud? And is it really possible for Winnie to find friendship, areas of common interest, and a great jump-rope partner in the dorky girl who’s always been on the periphery of the class’s attention? Sure, contemplating change in your own and other people’s lives can be scary, but Winnie learns, as she grows in maturity and self-awareness, that each month brings new adventures and, ultimately, the realization that change isn’t all that bad. Girls will especially like this enjoyable novel that rings with preteen truth. (Fiction. 9-12)