SIXTH-GRADE

The latest in “slang fiction”—novels that use slang words and their definitions to carry the story along—this narration follows Allie through her sixth-grade year. She’s counting on her best friend, stylish Tamara, to help her survive the transition from elementary school and avoid becoming a “nork,” a state beyond dorkdom. So why is Tam trying out for cheerleading with Renee, instead of soccer with Allie? Torn between liking and not caring for her best friend—all in the same moment—Allie begins to find parallels between her divorced parents’ relationship and her dissolving friendship with Tam. With a persistent coach who pushes Allie beyond her comfort level, the girl also discovers self-confidence, independence and new teammates—both on and off the field. Although not as poignant as Lynne Rae Perkins’s All Alone in the Universe (1999), Papademetriou’s clever, popular format and ability to understand the emotional roller coaster called middle school will appeal to tween girls. (Fiction. 10-12)