Of all my favorite books, this is probably the quietest. The situations are quite realistic, if rather sad, with a hopeful ending.
Shiloh, a high school junior and budding concert pianist, makes friends with new girl Lovey at the beginning of the school year. Over the course of the semester, Lovey proceeds to destroy Shiloh's life by taking everything that matters to her: her best friend, the boy she likes, and the piano solo for the school's music festival. During this time she watches helplessly as Lovey predictably betrays her other "friends" and sucks up to teachers and the popular students in her efforts to climb the school's social and academic ladders. Shiloh's family, friends, and piano teacher (who is a character in more ways than one) stand by her with sympathy, encouragement, and advice as she consistently (and painfully) takes the high road. ( )