“An insightful story of
friendship and change.”
—Booklist, starred review
“A beautifully honest and complex story about friendship and middle school.”—Stacy McAnulty, author of
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
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Meg has been friends with confident, self-assured Beatrix since kindergarten. She's always found comfort in Beatrix's shadow—even their families call them Beatrix-and-Meg. But middle school has brought some changes in Beatrix, especially when Meg tries to step outside her role as sidekick. Upsetting Beatrix means risking The Freeze—or worse.
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Meg gets into a special science elective and wants to take the class, no matter what Beatrix thinks. But when quirky new girl Hazel becomes Meg's science partner, Beatrix sets her sights on Hazel. At first, Meg is taken aback at how mean Beatrix can be—and how difficult it is to stand up to her friend. But as Meg gets to know Hazel while working on their backyard beehive project, she starts to wonder: What's it really like to be the Queen Bee? And more importantly: Is being Beatrix's friend worth turning down the possibility of finding her own voice?
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This heartfelt story explores the sweetness and stings of middle-school friendship.
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Age range: 8-13
Grade level: 3-8
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
ISBN-10: 1681197510
ISBN-13: 978-1681197517
Art by Isabel Roxas, design by Jeanette Levy
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A Junior Library Guild selection
★ Booklist, starred review
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Green Earth Award, 2021 Cadmus Children's Fiction Honor Award Winner
Amazon Teachers' Pick
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Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year (2021)
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Triple Crown Lamplighter Award Nominee 2022-2023
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