Harcourt, Inc.
Orlando Austin New York San Diego Toronto London
Many thanks to my agent, Steven Chudney, and to
my editor, Kathy Dawson. And special thanks to my son,
Eli (cow drawer extraordinaire), and to my daughter
Micah, for all the inspiration she provides.
Copyright © 2007 by Julie Bowe
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work
should be submitted online at www.harcourt.com/contact or mailed
to the following address: Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc.,
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bowe, Julie, 1962–
My last best friend/Julie Bowe.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: After her best friend moves away, fourth-grader Ida May is determined
not to make a new best friend, despite the efforts of a new girl in her class.
[1. Best friends—Fiction. 2. Friendship—Fiction. 3. Schools—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.B671943My 2007
[Fic]—dc22 2006009244
ISBN 978-0-15-205777-0
Text set in Espirit Book
Designed by April Ward
First edition
A C E G H F D B
Printed in the United States of America
This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, places,
organizations, and events portrayed in this book are products of
the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any organization,
event, or actual person, living or dead, is unintentional.
For my parents, Kris and Doris Henriksen,
my brothers NeiL and Scott, and for my
sister, Carol, who Long ago wished for a
Little sister. I'm glad her wish came true.