I was pleasantly surprised by this--Wilson's books have never appealed to me, and I only picked this up because SLJ sent it to me. I didn't expect such a realistic treatment of a common childhood trauma (a friend moving away), or even the sympathetic treatment of a character who should, by rights, be as annoying as all get-out. (Think equal parts Ramona Quimby and Joey Pigza, and add a splash of angry temper. That's our protagonist.) The main point, which was neither as trite as I'd expected nor as ham-fisted, is that it’s perfectly okay to feel sad and angry when a friend moves away.

Full review to come in the fall some time, probably post-American publication. ( )

I liked this book when I read it - although it's been a while since then, I was about 7 and now I'm 13. I remember liking it but at some points it was a bit slow. I remember liking one of the girls' dads, and it does stick in my brain as a good book. I should read it again soon! Haha. I recommend it for Primary School (elementary school) readers. ( )

It's nice to see Jacqueline Wilson write about normal children with normal problems, rather than her usual quick-and-easy win of scooping out the misery-lit barrel. It's also lovely that she manages to give us a happy and uplifting story which is however frank and truthful in its treatment about how close friends become less close as we move away and grow up. The acid pen portraits of Alice's snobbish parents and the gentle sub-plots of relationships between the adults as well as the children are all very well done.

I was amused that JW gave in to a moment of weakness and put a 'bloody Harry Potter' rant in her own book ;-) ( )

This book is ace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Thurso High School.

Tomboy Gemma and girly-girl Alice have been best friends forever. They see each other every day. Even though they’re polar opposites, they don’t hide anything from each other. Until one day, when Alice keeps quiet about the biggest secret she’s ever had… Will they become best friends for never? ( )