Head Over Heels

Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is navigating the tangled web of 'crush culture' or struggling with how to be honest with a best friend without hurting their feelings. It is an ideal resource for children who are beginning to experience the social pressures of dating and the complexity of maintaining loyalty within a tight-knit friend group. The story follows Lizzie McGuire as she tries to help her best friend Miranda navigate a first crush, only for a series of misunderstandings to make the boy think Lizzie is the one interested in him. Simultaneously, Lizzie faces a moral dilemma when she has to write a review for a school play that stars her very untalented best friend. It offers a lighthearted yet relatable look at the value of integrity and the necessity of clearing up social confusion before it spirals out of control. Parents will appreciate the way it models making amends and the gentle humor used to diffuse high-stakes pre-teen drama.