Peace, Love & Baby Ducks

An honest narrator grounds this sweet story about two sisters learning to accept their differences—and help each other grow up. The sisters, who live in an exclusive Atlanta neighborhood, both attend “the most prestigious prep school in the South,” but while narrator Carly thrives on being an individual, Anna's pretty face and developing body earn her a different kind of attention. Carly stands up for her softer sister often (telling their mom to stop treating curvy Anna like she is fat, for example). She realizes, though, that she is jealous of Anna's looks even though “I'm her big sister, who should be above such things.” As the sisters get different friends and interests, Carly spends less time with Anna, and they find themselves saying mean things and betraying each other (Anna even hooks up with Carly's crush). The conclusion gets emotionally overwrought with a teary scene in which the sisters turn into “a puddle of ridiculous-ness,” but mostly readers will find both the characters and their problems genuine. Ages 12–up. (May)