Friends #01: Starring Tess and Ali

Alison Hinkle, almost 12, is spending the summer as she usually does--at a quiet resort town with her close-knit family. When new neighbors move in next door, Alison forms an immediate alliance with Tess, a spirited, independent girl her age. Although Tess is often moody and manipulative, Alison enjoys her company despite the hurtful, disparaging remarks she sometimes utters--frequently about Mrs. Hinkle's overprotective attitude. It isn't until Alison learns of Tess's mother's recent desertion that she understands the misery and envy behind these comments. This first in the Friends series, which explores Tess and Alison's relationship over four summers, is clearly aimed at preteens, who may resent its juvenile tone. Yet Quin-Harkin ( No Experience Required ) has created a compassionate protagonist whose heretofore compliant ways are undergoing thoughtful reevaluation. Ages 10-15. (May)