Let's Pretend We Never Met

Mattie's family's move from North Carolina to Philadelphia to be closer to her aging and suddenly forgetful grandmother is, at first, made easier by new neighbor Agnes. Mattie finds her fellow sixth grader "kooky," but Agnes's penchant for creative antics makes winter break more fun. However, Agnes, who has an autism spectrum-like "social disorder," is unpopular at school, and Mattie pretends around others that their friendship doesn't exist--which Agnes accepts and even expects during the school day ("Mr. Perl told me that in his class I have a special force field that's just for me so no one touches me...Whatever happens at school, it's okay"), though upheaval in her own family makes her increasingly dependent on Mattie's company at home. This quiet middle-grade novel about what it means to be a friend acknowledges that friendship isn't always easy, and that changes in one's own life can make it harder to do what's right. The book keeps its preaching to a minimum by letting Mattie figure out much of the puzzle for herself (with a few grandmotherly nudges). shoshana flax