MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS, by Tara Altebrando

The story: Kate's family has run out of money, and now they have to move--right when her dance team has decided to attend a big competition the girls have been dying to try for years. While the rest of the team gets ready, Kate tries to sabotage her parents' real estate deal: first by stashing stinky stuff around the house to discourage possible buyers, then by planting loud noises around to bug people who come to the open house. But when the house deal goes through and it looks like the family really is going to move despite Kate's tricks, her mother's depression, and the death of their dog--Kate finds out what she's really made of...and is pleasantly surprised.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (clinical depression, death of a pet) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Who says a book has to have bad words or super powers to get a reader's attention? Girls in grades 4-up will enjoy 7th-grade Kate's war against reality, as well as her final acceptance of it--and while she's slow to embrace the changes, Kate finally comes to realize that things aren't going to end up nearly as bad as she expected (a good life lesson for lots of teens!). There are some funny moments in the story, as well as a light-hearted look at the confusion adolescent girls feel about boys and crushes. This is a fun one!