How to Be a Friend

A young girl with epilepsy is nervous about being the new girl in school -- and worried about keeping her condition a secret. Lexie is new to grade three and she has a secret. She has epilepsy. Worried that she'll be though of as different, she shyly avoids class discussion and recess (where she fears she will be teased for wearing a helmet). But hiding her condition proves to be dangerous when she is pressured into eating food that her treatment diet doesn't allow, and must stay home for several days. As time passes, Lexie gains confidence and makes friends among her classmates, even giving a presentation about epilepsy to the entire class. One dreaded day she actually has a seizure in the schoolyard -- and learns that good friends can be trusted to understand and accept who you are, and even help out in times of trouble. Following her previous novels, which includ How to Handle a Bully and How to Tame a Bully, author Nancy Wilcox Richards has written another wonderful story that promotes empathy, respect, acceptace and kindness among everyday elementary school children.