Julie Bowe

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

Bowe knows the fourth grade.

Julie Bowe's MY LAST BEST FRIEND rings true for anyone who's survived heartbreaking separation.

After Ida's best friend moves away, she's sure she'll never have another friend like Elizabeth. Until the day the new girl, Stacey Merriweather, smiles at her.

The thing I love most about this book is the way Ida thinks:

"She's smiling at you with the kind of smile you don't see on a real person very often. The kind you see a show more little kid draw with a big fat crayon on a piece of white paper. The kind you have to force yourself not to smile back at.

Trust me, you don't want to get too close to big-crayon smiles. That's because people with big-crayon smiles don't stick around very long. They move away just when you've gotten used to the way their hand feels sticky when you hold it, or the way they hiccup when they talk fast, or the way they whistle by sucking in instead of blowing out, or the way they can touch their nose with the tip of their tongue."

For Ida, entering the fourth grade without Elizabeth is like diving into the deep end of the pool before she's sure she can swim well enough to get back to the edge. She's got no safety devices and feels like no one is rooting for her as she splashes around and tries not to go under.

I don't know about everyone else, but that's exactly how elementary school felt to me sometimes. This is one of those books that comforts its readers with the knowledge that someone gets it. Someone like Julie Bowe.

I can't wait to read the sequel, MY NEW BEST FRIEND! show less

A beautiful book that draws the reader in to the challenges and questions kids encounter when their parents split up. I love the layering of questions throughout the book, the relatable characters, and the realistic presentation of kids' relationships with parents and peers. Though there's a theme of dealing with divorce, there are still lots of sweet and funny moments. I hope Wren comes back for more adventures!

I've been waiting to read this until the release date was creeping closer and now it's practically here!

If you haven't introduced your 3rd and 4th grade girls to Ida May, now is the time! Ida May is EveryGirl,with all the little joys and torments of a 9 year old girl. She has a best friend, a fish, a love of drawing, and a loving family.

In the latest Ida May story, Ida's hard-won best friend, Stacey, isn't acting so BFF as she should be....and it's all because of that stupid game Jenna show more brought to school. Or is it?

Bowe presents the perfect blend of friendship angst, and her characters are rich and varied, no stereotypes here! The characters are realistic and their actions are believable, but not black and white. Ida's realization of the different ways people can be friends and the growth of the various characters pulls the plot of school excitements and friendship bumps along to a satisfying conclusion.

Verdict: I'd recommend these to pretty much any girl in 3rd or 4th grade and they'd also make a great book club selection, as there's plenty of possibilities for discussion (although the story never descends into didacticism, nor is it an "issues" book) I can't wait to show off our library's copy on my school visits!

ISBN: 0803735014; Published May 2010 by Dial; Review copy provided by author; Purchased for the library show less

Ida swears off best friends after Elizabeth moves away but can't help being drawn to new girl Stacey. I liked the realistic portrayal of Ida's angst and her desire to connect with a kindred spirit.