Just as Long as We're Together -- Judy Blume

God, I wish I'd had this book in fifth grade.

It deals with divorce and fear of war and teasing and first periods and first dances and everything else that goes along with seventh grade.  That stuff was all good, but none of it was what really hit me. 

It was the friendship aspect.  Stephanie and Rachel have been best friends since second grade, but everything changes in seventh grade.  They aren't in the same classes anymore, they don't seem to have the same interests -- things change.  It's a natural change and pretty much everyone goes through it at some point or another, but I don't think it's ever easy.

Incidentally, I've got to say that I'm pro-cover change on this one.  The old cover is so amazingly '80s that I think I had an actual flashback.  It was unpleasant.  And MAN.  The HAIR.  Oh, god, the humanity...