Meanicures

Gr 5—7—It's Madison, Taylor, and Olivia against Cassidy, Alexis, and Kayley. Although the girls used to be friends, seventh grade has changed everything. Madison now refers to her former buds as "mean girls," and after one episode too many in which she is embarrassed by them, she decides to do something about it. An odd hair stylist gives her the idea to perform a ritual involving the burning of relics of their past relationships, and suddenly things are reversed: Madison and her friends are mean ones, and the "mean girls" are falling all over themselves to be nice to them. Will a group manicure—er, "meanicure"—restore things to normal? Although it's never clear what (if any) kind of magic is involved, and readers may have trouble distinguishing among the girls' personalities, there are mildly amusing moments, as well as the sympathy factor, to draw tween readers.—Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI