Constantly upstaged by her older sister, ten-year-old Sprig enjoys imagining the ways she might get rid of her. Once her friend, 12-year-old Dakota seems to have become her personal tormentor. Perfectly capturing the constant bickering that is part of the daily life of siblings, each chapter describes incidents that both drive them apart and bring them together. But Sprig is bothered by more than sibling rivalry. She misses her traveling father, worries about his working in Afghanistan, doesn’t care for the new long-term substitute teacher, quarrels and makes up with her best friend, tries to stop crying so often and begins to think about boys. Tween readers will recognize this stage of life, though the first friendly kisses and kissing games may surprise those who feel that fifth grade is early for these activities. A master at describing family dynamics, Mazer reveals the ups and downs of middle-school friendship, as well. This contemporary addition to her admirable body of work should bring new readers. (Fiction. 9-12)
