Loved this story! Loved the illustrations scattered throughout. This was the cutesiest story of a a third grader learning about friendship. I loved the incorporation of her Vietnamese culture into the story. Beautifully written and illustrated

This is a super cute small chapter book with more books coming in the series. I could see 2nd and 3rd graders relating to this book, since they are getting older and want to have more choices at school. The main character was reflective in the way she responded to a situation at school. I could use this to teach many lessons, including writing and SEL. I also loved that the characters were from different backgrounds, just as my students are in my own classroom.

When Ly-Lan and Cece discover they have been assigned to different third grade classrooms, they become frantic in their assertions that a mistake must have been made. Certainly, the principal and their teachers would not separate two best friends who have spent every moment together and been in the same classroom and shared the same teacher since the first day of kindergarten. However, even after writing a letter to principal Grant, Ly-Lan is informed that they will remain in their third-grade classrooms as assigned. This charming children's book about the challenges of growing up and attending school will have children entertained and amused. Valuable lessons instilled include acceptance, kindness, speaking one's mind, and ultimately learning that sometimes things work out differently than we wish but that it is typically always for a wonderful reason.

The characters are well written and believable. The narrative flows well and seems well suited for young readers. The dialogue is charming and engaging. The fact that the author adds a glossary at the end shows the magnitude of dedication toward this book and that children of all socioeconomic cultures can easily access and internalize the meanings of this delightful book.

Ly-Lan is excited for third grade and even more excited to be in the same class as her BFF just like they have been each year before. On the first day of school, though, there is a mix-up and Ly-Lan and her BFF are not in the same class. Ly-Lan is placed with a new student with the hope of helping the new student feel comfortable. Ly-Lan tries to convince the principal to change their mind, but it doesn't work. In the end, Ly-Lan learns that she can have more than one BFF and that sometimes change is good!