Penny Draws a Best Friend (Penny Draws #1)

A bright and emotionally accessible story full of wit and warmth.

Readers will likely relate to [Penny's] concerns . . . This new series comes straight from the heart.

As outlined in an author's note, Shepard (the Pretty Little Liars series) draws from her own childhood experience with anxiety for this diary-style illustrated novel. Rising fifth grader Penny is looking forward to her best friend Violet's return from summer gymnastics camp. But the start of school promptly reveals that Violet has moved on: she's no longer into Art Club--an activity the girls previously shared--and camp has bonded her with popular mean girl Riley. But Mrs. Hines, the "feelings teacher" Penny speaks with regularly about her worries, proves a catalyst for personal change, giving Penny a journal to work through things. As Penny encounters, and slowly befriends, other students who talk to Mrs. Hines, she directs her diary entries to her "loyal and nice" dog, Cosmo, who shares many of Penny's fears ("Storms. Fireworks. Balloons. Clowns"). In chatty, quick-moving installments, Penny tells entertaining anecdotes and details her brother's recurring croup, her concerns about social scenarios, and a secret her parents seem to be keeping. Shepard's light touch and sketchbook-style b&w doodles make for an engaging read that candidly portrays the effect of destabilizing changes on one child experiencing anxiety. Character portrayals reflect the white of the page. Ages 8-12. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts. (May)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Penny Draws a Best Friend

Imbued with humor, colorful characters, and the perilous dilemmas of childhood . . . Shepard carefully and successfully walks a tightrope in her treatment of Penny's worries by validating her feelings while suggesting that they should not be the only thing that guide her actions and choices. The epistolic format and the quirky, lovable main character will appeal to fans of Rachel Renée Russell's Dork Diaries and Svetlana Chmakova's Brave. —The Bureau of the Center for Children's Books

Fantastically fun, funny, and heartfelt. I loved it. —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth series 

Perfectly captures the hilarity, anxiety, and silliness of being a kid. A charming, zippy read that will keep you smiling all book long. —Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Disney's Descendants series 

Heartfelt and oh-so funny—an utterly charming read that's perfect for any kid who's ever had a worry, or who simply loves to laugh. —Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After series 

Like the worries in Penny's head, drama and hilarity run amok in this sweet, relatable, and engaging story. —Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of the Emmie & Friends series