As Ida May begins fourth grade, she is determined never to make another best friend--because her last best friend moved away.This is a doable plan at first. Thanks to bratty, bossy Jenna Drews, who hates Ida, no one in class has ever really noticed her before. Its when the sparkly Stacey Merriweather comes to her school thatIdas plan goes awry. Ida reaches out despite her fear butdoesntsay hello--instead she writes Staceyanonymous notes.Soon their friendship develops without Ida ever having to reveal her real identity . . . until she has no choice. And thats when the true friendship begins.

JULIE BOWE lives in Wisconsin. My Last Best Friend is her first novel for young readers.