SHANNON HALE

Artwork by

LeUYEN PHAMArtwork by

LeUYEN PHAM

New York

Color by JANE POOLE

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Text copyright © 2017 by Shannon Hale

Illustrations copyright © 2017 by LEUyen Pham

Published by First Second

First Second is an imprint of Roaring Brook Press,

a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership

175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016945552

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-62672-785-4

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-62672-416-7

Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use.

Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department

at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

First edition 2017

Book design by LeUyen Pham and Andrew Arnold

Color by Jane Poole

Printed in China by Toppan Leefung Printing LTD.,

Dongguan City, Guangdong Province

Inked with black india ink and Hunt 103 nib on

Bristol paper and colored digitally in ADOBE Photoshop

Paperback: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Hardcover: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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For you

when you’re feeling lonely and worried

so you’ll remember that you’re not alone

—S. H.

For Shannon

—L. P.

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One good friend. My mom says that’s all anyone really needs.

Adrienne was back!

But I wasn’t her only friend.

First day of Third grade, and i was so happy...

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Hey Jen.

I’m glad you moved back.

Adrienne already knew Jen because they went to church together.

We were all going to be in the same third-grade class.

Hey Adrienne.

There was something about Jen.

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Though My school was full of Jennifers...

...there was only one Jen.

Jen and Adrienne had a lot in common.

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I could see why Adrienne might want Jen as a best friend instead of me.

Jen danced Ballet. She played flute... ...and piano.

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She was the fastest runner at recess races.

gasp!

She never seemed to get hurt or sad.

phew!Unlike...

waaah!But Jen already had a best friend: Jenny.

You’re such a baby,

Shannon.

So maybe Jen wouldn’t take Adrienne away from me.

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I don’t know who first named it, but Jen and her friends were called The Group. There’s The Group.

The Group is so cool.

Jen’s brother is the most popular boy at East High.

Everyone wanted to be part of The Group.

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Of course Adrienne was a member.

But I wasn’t sure if I was.

Come on, Adrienne!

Okay!

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I love Michael Jackson.

Me too. Me too!Yeah, he’s my

favorite.I don’t know who

that is.

Do you live in a hole?

I felt crummy all day.

Hey Shannon!

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Jen says she likes you. Because you’re honest.

Really?

Jen likes me!

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The next day, I officially joined The Group at recess.

Jen, who do you like second-best after me?

Um...Adrienne.

...and Shannon can go last.

Who do you like third?

First Jenny, then Adrienne, then Sarah, then Emily...

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