Another entertaining yet cutting picture of contemporary California family life, [Chloris and the Weirdos] finds sisters Chloris (15) and Jennifer (13) coping with the aftermath of their mother's second divorce, along with their own adolescent exploration of dating. Ever the stable Libra of the family, Jen suddenly finds herself in love with a very sweet, non-sexist, red-haired skateboarder; she also discovers a capacity for unexpected explosions as her mother and sister constantly clash over freedom, responsibility, and male relationships. Platt really knows these characters and their situation, revealing a flair for funny dialogue in conjunction with serious issues that involve both children and adults, neither of which he idealizes or puts down. This has the same high appeal as, and a more natural flow than, Chloris and the Freaks….

Betsy Hearne, in her review of "Chloris and the Weirdos," in Booklist (reprinted by permission of the American Library Association; copyright...