The Perfect Plan

Susan Wangui's "The Perfect Plan," the first in the series, features clever, capable young protagonists who are determined to overcome all obstacles, in a new young adult series about a group of four friends who don't quite fit in.

The group is made up of a stoic, strong-willed Japanese boy named Kenta; a jovial, pretty, if unkempt, girl named Marie; a temperamental genius in the mold of Hercule Poirot named Henry; and a younger disabled boy who clings to Marie named Michael. Together, they face many challenges that arise in the lives of young people, often in fun-filled adventures, but at other times, delving into dark and serious matters. Through each experience, the group gains self-confidence.

In this volume, our four friends must solve the problem of bullying-of the worst kind imaginable. As this group of tenacious kids works through this terrifying reality to come out the other side, "The Perfect Plan" provides a valuable lesson, in terms that middle-school children will understand, that parents who want their children to be prepared for life's difficult situations will appreciate.