Twelve-year-olds Tara*Starr and Elizabeth are complete opposites. Tara*Starr loves making up puns and wearing glitter and beads and peacock-feather earrings. Shy Elizabeth enjoys writing poetry and has a more subdued style of dress. But as different as they may seem, Tara*Starr and Elizabeth are also the best of friends. That's why it's especially difficult for both girls when Tara*Starr and her parents move to another state.

Following the move, Tara*Starr and Elizabeth continue their intense friendship on a pen-pal basis. And it is through their alternating letters that readers learn how Tara*Starr and Elizabeth grow and change --- and how they keep their friendship strong, even if it's long-distance. Tara*Starr supports Elizabeth when Elizabeth's father loses his job and eventually leaves the family. And Elizabeth encourages Tara*Starr to try out for the play at her new school and to be excited about the baby her mother is expecting. After nearly a year of letters, the girls are finally able to plan a face-to-face reunion when Elizabeth arranges a summer trip to visit Tara*Starr.

Authors Danziger and Martin, who are also real-life friends, wrote this novel letter by letter, experiencing it just as the book's characters would. (Danziger is the voice of Tara*Starr and Martin writes as Elizabeth.) This approach gives the text an authenticity that will resonate with young readers long after they've finished the last page.