Amber Brown Goes Fourth

Reach for this book when your child is facing a season of transition, particularly the bittersweet experience of a best friend moving away or the logistical and emotional shift of a recent parental divorce. It provides a relatable, empathetic mirror for the 'middle-of-the-road' feelings that come with growing up: not quite a little kid anymore, but not yet a teenager, and suddenly having to navigate a changing world without a familiar partner by your side. Amber Brown is a spunky, honest narrator whose fourth-grade year starts with a lot of 'new.' Her best friend, Justin, has moved, leaving her to navigate the social hierarchy of school alone while she also adjusts to her father living in another country and her mother beginning to date. Parents will appreciate Paula Danziger's ability to blend humor with genuine heartache, making it a perfect tool for opening conversations about loneliness, making new friends, and the reality that life doesn't always go back to the way it was.