Review: Piper Reed: Forever Friend by Kimberly Willis Holt (Cybils Nominee)

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Piper Reed: Forever Friend. by Kimberly Willis Holt. August 7, 2012. Henry Holt. 160 pages. ISBN: 9780805090086

The time has come. Piper Reed’s dad, the Chief, has gotten new orders, which will send the entire family from Pensacola, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia. Normally a new move means having to start all over, but this time Piper won’t have to do that, because her friends Michael and Nicole already live in Norfolk. She can’t wait to see them again, and to start the Norfolk branch of the Gypsy Club. Unfortunately, though, in just the short time they’ve been gone, Michael and Nicole have already made new friends, and upon Piper’s arrival, she is accosted by Arizona, who seems much better at adjusting to new situations than Piper is, and who shakes Piper’s confidence just a bit.

I think Forever Friend is one of the best books in the Piper Reed series, because it actually gets to heart of what Piper’s Gypsy Club has been all about it - her family’s many moves. Piper is forced to face the fact that no matter what, each move will bring changes, and that sometimes even her club won’t be able to keep her from feeling sad or uncertain. This situation lets us see a new side of Piper - a quieter, more nervous side - and it also gives us an opportunity to see her make new friends in ways she did not expect - by going bowling,collecting stamps, and trying skateboarding!

Arizona is a great addition to the series, and I’ll love seeing how she figures into future adventures, since she and Piper both have such big personalities. I also thought Piper’s sisters seemed a bit more three-dimensional this time around. Piper actually has a few positive thoughts about Tori now and then, which might be a sign that their relationship will mature even further in future books.

Piper Reed: Forever Friend would pair nicely with Moving Day from Meg Cabot’s Allie Finkle series, or with Mo Wren, Lost and Found by Tricia Springstubb. Also don’t miss any of Piper’s previous books - there are five other titles!

I borrowed Piper Reed: Forever Friend from my local public library. 

For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Rebecca Kai for the 2012 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!