Bending the Rules

Bending the Rules is the second book in Golden Books' Generation Girl series, following Australian teen Tori as she adjusts to life at a multicultural Manhattan high school while living with her initially chilly Aunt Tessa. A subplot involving a mysterious local street artist gives the story some genuine forward momentum, and the New York City setting adds geographic texture that middle-grade readers can sink into. The downside is obvious: this was a tie-in product for Mattel's Barbie line, which caps its literary ambition. Characters can feel thin outside the fan base, and the book is now out of print. Still, for readers who loved the era or the brand, it's clean, accessible, and quietly charming.