About This Book
Reach for this book when your pre-teen is struggling with the messy, shifting dynamics of middle school friendships or the quiet instability of a changing family structure. Stephanie is navigating a high-stakes transition year, balancing the loyalty she feels for her best friend Rachel with the excitement of a new friendship with the vibrant Alison. At the same time, she is grappling with her father's absence and her mother's attempts to hold the family together. It is a quintessential Judy Blume story that treats the anxieties of thirteen-year-olds with profound respect. Parents will find it an invaluable tool for validating a child's feelings of jealousy, the fear of being replaced, and the confusing realization that parents are flawed, complex individuals. It is perfectly suited for ages 10 to 14, providing a safe space to explore the realities of divorce and social hierarchies without feeling clinical or overly moralistic.
