The View from Saturday

by E.L. Konigsburg

Mrs. Olinski, paralyzed in a car crash ten years ago, returns to teaching and chooses four unlikely sixth-grade Academic Bowl team, who become unlikelier champions, in more than the state competition. Julian, the strangest one on the school bus, invites Noah, red-haired Nadia, and silent Ethan, to tea.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This book stood out to me when I read it as a tween, but it meant even more to me when I reread it as an "adult" two years ago. I wish I could have been as thoughful and introspective as the characters in this book when I was their age. I loved that, at age approximately 11, these characters were able to make such deep meaningful friendships with each other, find beauty and patience in the ugly and hectic, and give hope to so many younger folks at a challenging transition--socially and developmentally--in their lives. A must for children and inner-children alike.