I recommend: _Girl in Landscape_ by Jonathan Lethe

I enjoyed this book, which focused on the alienation of a girl whose mom dies and who travels to an alien planet. The alien planet is rather gentle, the inhabitants are inoffensive....it's the humans who are dangerous. Elements like the giraffe-like "household deer", tiny creatures who climb walls and tend to hide in shadows are charming. There's also a theme of sexual awakening, but handled rather well, I thought. I mean, there's some scary stuff here -- a tough older guy and a young girl...but emotionally the girl holds her own.