THE ICEBERG AND ITS SHADOW

What happens to Annabeth and her sixth-grade friends when a new girl, Mindy, appears on the scene with her silver-studded jeans, curled-lip smirk, and unkempt black hair. Mindy soon dominates Annabeth, Carolyn, and Tracy, and marks for persecution Annabeth's quiet best friend Rachel, an artist in tune with Annabeth's interest in writing. With a few qualms Annabeth goes along, until she gets fed up and talks back to Mindy--whereupon the trio turns on her. There is also a beloved ""creative"" teacher whose job is jeopardized by the cute projects and sensitivity exercises that fill her classes. By speaking up for the teacher and passing a petition that will have her transferred instead of fired, Annabeth redeems herself and gains a victory over Mindy. This is told by Annabeth in the glib, knowing tone common in junior-high-level fiction, but a little too glib and knowing (especially at first) to ring true in a sixth-grader. The situation too is common, which could be a plus or a minus. The combination might hold readers, but won't make a mark on them.