Brooke’s Not-So-Perfect Plan

Headstrong overachiever and soccer star Brooke anchors this first book in the Confidentially Yours series, about a trio of sixth-grade best friends acclimating to middle-school life. These self-appointed “Three Musketeers” pool their talents to write an advice column for the school paper. Though Whittemore (Colonial Madness) draws on familiar personality profiles, her characters aren’t formulaic: poised fashion and beauty expert Vanessa loses her confidence when thrust into the spotlight, empathetic Heather sheds her self-consciousness in the same situation, and Brooke’s take-charge intensity is defused by her sharp humor. Thrown into the mix is Shakespeare aficionado Tim; when assigned to the advice-column staff, he turns to the Three Musketeers and sighs, “Fine.... Guess I’m your d’Artagnan.” (The reference is lost on the girls, who named themselves after the candy bar.) The banter and quips bouncing around among these classmates and friends energize the story, which reinforces the importance of recognizing one’s limits, learning how to both take and give advice, and knowing how to be a good friend. Vanessa’s Fashion Face-Off pubs simultaneously. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Jan.) [/em]