Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: The New Girl

The second book in Meg Cabot's Allie Finkle series is light and fun. The title character has some cool attributes -- she knows how to stand up for herself and is considerate of her friends. But one thing that distracts from the story is the dialog. It feels a little too simple, too little girlish -- almost like an adult speaking how they think a 9-year-old would speak.What Cabot does well is exploring interpersonal dynamics from a kid's perspective. It's great to see Allie trying to work through both family issues and conflicts with friends. Readers will identify with Allie's struggle of wanting to belong and be accepted while also trying to remain true to herself and the things she values, like being nice to others. Allie's a born leader and it's interesting to watch where she leads others.