The Friendship Shuffle

Dara has saved Esme a seat, a pencil, and a place in a school-fair plan they haven’t made yet. But Esme is drawn to dance rehearsals, and Dara’s idea for a sound-guessing booth is beginning to take shape without her longtime friend.

With help from Kit, a new friend who has ideas of her own, Dara sets out to track down a mysterious squeal and build a game visitors can play. Then the plans get tangled: Dara says yes to too much, misses time with Kit, and discovers that a recording that makes people laugh can also leave someone feeling exposed. As the fair approaches, Dara must decide what belongs in the booth, how to make things right, and whether she can accept that friends may want different things.

The Friendship Shuffle is a warm, funny early chapter story about changing friendships, honest apologies, and finding a way forward without asking anyone to be the joke. Dara’s awkward choices and small acts of courage make this a relatable read for ages 8–12, at home or aloud together.