by Robin Vaupel (2003)
A mission that begins as an eighth-grade project on Henry David Thoreau's experimental living at Walden Pond becomes a life-changing experience for a group of outsider students who become budding philosophers, environmental activists, and loyal friends.
Coco Simon
For as long as Katie can remember, it's just been her and her mom. But that's about to change. First her mom gets a boyfriend. And then Katie gets an email from her dad, whom she's never met, saying he wants to get together. Katie's not sure she's ready for so much change in her life. With so much happening at once, Katie's counting on her friends in the Cupcake Club to help her find the sweet side of what seems like a sticky situation.
Sharon Creech
Set in the breathtaking landscape of Lugano, Switzerland, Bloomabilityis Sharon Creech at her very best.When 13-year-old Dinnie Doone is plucked out of her troubled life by her aunt and uncle and whisked away to an international school in Switzerland, her world is turned upside down. Suddenly surrounded by different cultures, languages, and beliefs, Dinnie struggles to holdon to her past life. Gradually, through friendships and experiences she could have nowhere else, she learns to trust herself and discovers the beautiful "bloomabilities" her new life has to offer.01 Blue Spruce Award Masterlist (YA Cat.), 00-01 Young Hoosier Book Award Masterlist (Grds. 6-8), Pacific NW Library Assoc. 2001 Young Reader's Choice Award Masterlist, and 00-01 South Carolina Book Award Masterlist(Grds 6-9) Young Adult's Choices for 2000 (IRA)