Heather Vogel Frederick

For the mother-daughter book club, everything changes in eighth grade. Could the book club break up? When Jess is offered an anonymous scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, she's not sure that leaving home -- and her friends -- is what she wants to do. Meanwhile Megan's grandmother comes for a long visit and turns everything in the Wong household upside down; Emma crusades against her middle school's new uniforms; and Cassidy fi nds out there's a big change ahead for her family. Inspired by Jess's unexpected opportunity, the book club decides to read Jean Webster's classic Daddy-Long-Legs, and there's an added twist this year when they become pen pals with the girls in a book club in Wyoming. There's plenty to write to their new friends about, from a prank-filled slumber party to a not-so-secret puppy -- and even a surprise fi rst kiss. In this third book in the beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club series, the girls learn that as long as they have one another -- and a good book -- they're ready for whatever eighth grade has in store!

Dear Pen Pal

Jaclyn Graybill

While not my favorite so far in the series, I enjoyed the third book nonetheless. 
This was the last book of THMBC that I read when I was still within its age demographic, and seeing it again reminded me how much solace it brought me the first time. One of the things I love most about these books is how it cares for real life worries while we often trivialize them. I dealt with my fair share of middle school drama, which is a given when navigating such a tricky and confusing time in life, so it was incredibly freeing to find a space where these very intense and real experiences weren't written off as pre-teen silliness. When your world is still so small, and you're growing large within it, everything that happens feel so immense and intense. I felt all of the emotions with the girls this time around, just like I did the first time. This time, with an older eye and softer heart.
This is definitely going to be an on-going theme in my reviews for this series, but I stand by that it is so incredibly important and cathartic. Besides, what I wouldn't give to be at an age where the worst thing in my life was a boy not liking me back or arguing with a best friend.
They say there is benefit in hindsight, and if mine is that I've grown so much from the little girl that first read these books, then I am more than happy to reminisce with her again.

While Jess copes with a snooty roommate at her new boarding school, Megan's grandmother comes for a long, harrowing visit.

Milana Marie Waller

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I felt like the second one was a bit of a let down, written quickly and a bit sloppily. But this book completely made up for he second one!!! I had ordered books #2,3,and 4 off amazon and after reading Much Ado About Anne, I definitely wasn't looking forward to Dear Pen Pal, especially considering it had 406 pages. But as soon as I picked it up and started reading it, I couldn't put it down!! I definitely recommend this book, especially to all my friends :)

Dear Pen Pal

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