What makes a true friend? Kayla and Melanie are “two of a kind,” but not in a good way. They stick together, dress the same, exclude others and even mock other girls in the class. Julisa and Anna are buddies, too, but they’re the kind of girls who help others and invite everyone else to play with them at recess. This sweet friendship is threatened when Anna briefly joins the mean girls and ignores her friend. Schoolchildren will nod with recognition and empathy when Anna is torn in two directions and will breathe a sigh of relief when she makes the right decision. This straightforward and familiar situation is made even clearer by Phelan’s expressive watercolor illustrations, in which Kayla and Melanie’s sharp eyebrows let the reader know just what kind of girls they are. Teachers and parents in need of a springboard for discussions of exclusion and social cruelty will find this book very helpful. Julisa and Anna are fine models for young girls looking for guidance in the ways of friendship. (Picture book. 4-7)
