Books like My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe

After her last best friend moves away, Ida May vows never to find another companion—until Stacey Merriweather, a fun and sparkly newcomer, appears in town. The two quickly become inseparable, forming a secret club around a magical mermaid night‑light that seems to grant wishes. Their experiments with the night‑light spell out problems in their class and at home: Ida uses it against Jenna, the mean girl, while Stacey prevents a scheduled math test. The more they rely on the mermaid’s power, the more they feel compelled to weave elaborate lies to support their "creative stories." Although Ida initially follows along, she soon questions Stacey’s motives and the potential harm to their friendship and her home life. Ida faces the dilemma of whether to set the record straight and protect her own truth, or to preserve the fragile bond with her new best friend. The story explores themes of friendship, truth, and the consequences of wish‑fulfilling shortcuts, set in a middle‑school environment.

First publish date: 2008