My Last Best Friend

Reach for this book when your child has recently experienced a friendship breakup or a best friend moving away and is now withdrawing socially to protect their heart. It speaks directly to the 'once bitten, twice shy' mentality many children adopt after a significant social loss. Fourth-grader Ida May decides that having no best friend is safer than losing another one, but she soon finds that friendship has a way of finding you even when you are hiding. This realistic school story explores themes of loyalty, the vulnerability of trust, and the courage it takes to be open to new people. Written with a gentle, relatable voice for ages 8 to 12, it provides a safe space for children to process their grief over lost connections. Parents will appreciate how it validates the 'stinging' feeling of being left behind while showing a healthy, gradual path toward making new memories.