Rival

Brooke and Kathryn are frenemies through and through. They come from opposite ends of the social and economic spectrum (Brooke is rich and popular, Kathryn is neither), yet the one thing they have in common means everything. It's why they became friends in the first place and the source of their current hatred: choir. Both are standout singers preparing to compete against each other to win the Blackmore, a prestigious music competition that comes with a college scholarship, something Kathryn desperately needs. Debut author Wealer tells their story by alternating between their points of view and jumping between their senior year, during the months leading up to the competition, and their junior year, when the girls met and befriended each other. Both girls have faults and neither is a caricature: capable of great depth and kindness, Brooke isn't just a stereotypical mean girl, and Kathryn's insecurities are balanced by her confidence in her singing. The story arc is somewhat predictable, but Wealer has a talent for depicting the fragile moments on which friendships are made and broken. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)