My Last Best Friend

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.

Can a friendship built on secrets survive the fourth-grade playground?

• A Secret Pen Pal: Ida wants to be friends with the new girl, Stacey, but she’s too scared to say hello. So she starts leaving anonymous notes instead, hoping her identity never gets revealed.
• Dealing with Bullies: Navigating the fourth-grade classroom isn’t easy, especially with a bossy classmate like Jenna Drews who seems determined to make Ida’s life difficult.
• Friendship and Moving Away: After her last best friend moved, Ida promised herself she’d never get close to anyone again. This story explores the pain of loss and the courage it takes to open up to someone new.
• Perfect for Shy Kids: A wonderful chapter book for young readers who understand what it’s like to feel shy, anxious, or afraid of taking the first step toward a new friendship.