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Best friends fall for the same guy and the friendship pact they made is in jeopardy. ( )

7th-grader Holly falls for the new kid Jared. So does her best friend Andie. The book mostly revolves around Holly’s struggle to balance her friendship with her first boyfriend, her absent father who comes back into her life, and the death of a favorite aunt, not to mention the physical and emotional changes of early adolescence that wreck havoc on her relationship with her mother. Christianity is mostly expressed through Holly’s prayer and involvement with a youth group, and more subtly in the books message of loyalty and forgiveness, played out in the book’s ending, which sees the two friends reunite, even though Jared is still up to his two-timing tricks with other girls. Holly’s feisty and confused nature captures middle school years well. No red flags. Ages 10-13.