by Cynthia Lord
First published 2019
Emma accompanies her game warden father on summer's final evening to free a trapped wild rabbit. They discover a small bunny instead, and Emma talks her father into taking it home overnight. The next morning brings Emma's first day at public school after years of homeschooling. She dreams of finding her perfect best friend. The school pairs her with Jack for a project, but he struggles to focus, interrupts constantly, and talks nonstop about animals. Emma fears Jack's behavior will make her conspicuous when she wants to blend in. The rescued rabbit becomes a bridge between Emma and Jack, creating an unexpected connection. Emma faces a choice between this surprising friendship and her original plan to find the ideal best friend she always imagined.
Genres: animals, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Emma
192 pages · Hardcover · Scholastic Press