Two BFFs tackle the anxiety-riddled transition to middle school by creating a list of 11 things to accomplish before their 12th birthdays in November.Kaylan has what her Italian grandmother called "agita"—anxiety—and she has maximum-high levels at the prospect of sixth grade with its cliques and mean girls. Lots is changing in the white girl's life: her dad has moved to Arizona and her mom is sad; her one-year-older brother, Ryan, once her friend, is now her tormentor; and she is beginning to get butterflies around boys. Kaylan and her best friend, Ari, white and Jewish, create a list, ranging from getting detention and makeovers to first kisses and sabotaging Ryan. When Ari connects with friends from Hebrew school and summer camp, the two BFFs fight. Kaylan's not-quite-teen first-person voice perfectly captures the horrors of starting at a new school, from the prospect of eating alone in the cafeteria to the awkwardness of meeting a new neighbor boy, biracial (black/white) Jason. Jason supplies most of the book's diversity; one of the indistinguishable lunch-table friends mentions being Korean but is undeveloped as a character. As is typical for the genre, Kaylan matures and learns to cope with unpredictability, even participating in the talent show as the fastest clementine peeler in school. Yet another novel about dreading middle school, this breezy beach read is well-done but offers little new. (Fiction. 9-12)

Gr 4-6During the last weeks of summer, Kaylan and her friend Arianna become very nervous about entering middle school. To alleviate some of their fears, they create an "11 Before 12" list11 things that they hope will make them fabulous and confident by the time they turn 12 in November. After the two have initial success with list items such as "highlight our hair" and "make a guy friend," the school year starts, and the social dynamics of middle school put a strain on their friendship. With Arianna not speaking to her, Kaylan must figure out a new way to handle her anxiety and navigate tense situations at home. Kaylan finds support in unexpected places and discovers surprising strengths of her own, but she also realizes that she misses Arianna, and she works to regain her friendship so that they can celebrate the completion of their list. Although this story does not break much new ground, the voice of a tween dealing with the pressures of adolescence is authentic, and this book will entice those who want to read about a relatable, funny young woman. VERDICT Purchase where tales about the dramas of middle school and family life are in great demand.Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY