My Last Best Friend (Friends for Keeps)

As Ida May begins fourth grade, she is determined never to make another best friend--because her last best friend moved away. This is a doable plan at first. Thanks to bratty, bossy Jenna Drews, who hates Ida, no one in class has ever really noticed her before. 

It's when the sparkly Stacey Merriweather comes to her school that Ida's plan goes awry. Ida reaches out despite her fear but doesn't say hello--instead she writes Stacey anonymous notes. Soon their friendship develops without Ida ever having to reveal her real identity . . . until she has no choice. And that's when the true friendship begins.

What happens when you’re too scared to say hello to a new friend?

• Making New Friends: Ida May is determined to be a loner after her last best friend moved away. But when sparkly Stacey Merriweather shows up, Ida might have to break her own rule.
• Secret Notes: Instead of talking, Ida starts leaving anonymous notes for Stacey, sparking a pen-pal friendship where neither girl knows the other's true identity.
• Overcoming Shyness: A heartfelt and funny story about finding your voice, even when you feel invisible or afraid of getting hurt again.
• Dealing with Bullies: Navigating the fourth-grade social scene isn't easy, especially with the class mean girl, Jenna Drews, standing in the way of every new friendship.

Julie Bowe grew up in Luck, Wisconsin. Actually, she grew up "out of Luck"-about a mile and a half. As a fourth grader, she basically hated math and sports, but she loved to read and draw, and hoped to be an artist some day. Today she still feels a distinct aversion to numbers and athletic equipment. But she still loves to read and likes to think that she makes pictures with her writing. She also still lives in Wisconsin.