Frankie's View of Friendship

Frankie Wallop is a 12-year-old girl who is dealing with many of the typical issues of all girls her age, including friendships. She claims that Beth is her best friend as the novel opens, but she is soon questioning Beth's role in her life while Beth seems to struggle with what she should do for Frankie. Meanwhile, Frankie is developing two other friendships, though reluctantly, and is learning what friendship really means.

Frankie identifies Beth as her best friend, but Beth's reaction to Frankie's news – that her father, Robert, has gone on a date – makes Frankie realize that Beth has no idea how Frankie really feels about things. Frankie reads an email and discovers that her father, Robert, has gone on a date with Ayanna, a woman he met when he was away for a conference. Frankie tells Beth the news, and Beth's...