The Absolute Value of Mike / Kathryn Erskine / 247 pages / Best of 2011

This is absolutely fantastic!  Mike is shipped off for the summer to live with his father's aunt and uncle while his fathers goes overseas on an important scientific project.  He thinks Mike is working an important science project of his own - the Artesian Spring.  There has been a miscommunication, however, and the project involves engineering of a different sort.  Mike engineers a project to adopt a Romanian orphan, release Poppy from his trance, help Moo with her declining faculties, and reconnect with his father.