Strawberry Summer

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling hurt or left behind by a close friend who is starting to change. Set during a warm, idyllic summer, the story follows Chloe, whose world is shaken when her best friend returns from vacation with new interests and a new, cooler friend. It gently explores the sadness and confusion of shifting friendships, the joy of a first crush, and the empowerment of finding one's own voice and confidence. For readers aged 9 to 13, Strawberry Summer is a reassuring story that normalizes the growing pains of pre-teen social life and shows that it's okay to grow in different directions.