(2) YA Seventh-grade basketball player Sarah loves to "crush it on the court" with her best friends, Ryan and Emilia. "It's not hard for me to say what I need in basketball, because the rules are clear." Unfortunately, Sarah doesn't have the same confidence about food and eating. Her mother, who has her own complicated history with disordered eating, either controls what and how much Sarah eats or forgets to feed her altogether. When puberty-related sluggishness affects her game, Sarah decides to follow her own misguided "rules of being healthy," which she's cobbled together from her mom and her coach. Her unhealthy eating habits spiral, but fortunately she has a caring support system of friends and adults to help her confront her problem. Writing from personal experience, Gerber (Braced and Focused) is no stranger to tackling difficult topics; Sarah is a sympathetic character whose first-person perspective believably portrays the confusion, discomfort, denial, and isolation that come from having issues with food. Friendship drama (Sarah secretly likes Emilia's crush), basketball action, and cooking scenes enhance the narrative. This book's positive approach to body and mental health issues will reassure readers that "taking up space" is absolutely okay.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Seventh grader Clea struggles with organization, attention, and school assignments, so her parents have her evaluated for ADHD. The approachable, realistic novel handles Clea's trials with sensitivity while giving readers plenty of solid information about the disorder. Once she has a diagnosis and appropriate support, Clea's small steps toward school success are both believable and encouraging.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Rachel Brooks had been looking forward to seventh grade until her doctor prescribed a back brace for scoliosis. The rigid brace makes shopping for clothes terrible, threatens her role on the soccer team, and elicits cruel teasing (including the unfortunate name "Robo-Beast"); even her mother (who also had scoliosis) doesn't seem understanding. Rachel's struggle to fit in despite looking different is poignant and believable.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum