Families who loved Best Friends by Francine Pascal often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing the growing pains of a friendship or sibling relationship where one person is being pulled into a new social circle while the other feels left behind. It specifically addresses the anxiety of maintaining your identity while wanting to fit in with the 'cool crowd' and the sting of social exclusion. This graphic novel follows twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield as they navigate the start of middle school. When Jessica is invited to join an exclusive, high-status club, it creates a rift between the sisters. It explores themes of loyalty, jealousy, and the pressure to conform. Parents will appreciate how it validates the difficult feelings of being 'the one left out' while modeling how to communicate through sibling conflict and peer pressure. It is a perfect choice for 8 to 12 year olds experiencing their first taste of social hierarchy.