These contemporary novels feature girls who face everyday challenges and more serious problems as they approach their teen years. In figuring out how to cope when life is less than perfect, they begin to understand what growing up is all about. Life seems grim to 11-year-old Dodie. But she develops a new outlook when she meets Jeffrey, a boy with muscular dystrophy and a passion for art. This book explores the true meaning of friendship — and the ways a serious illness can test it.