"I mean, if dressing up in someone else's mom's clothes and makeup is babyish, well, then I didn't want to be grown-up." (Allie Finkle)
In Best Friends and Drama Queens, Allie is now settled at a new school and is excited when she hears that there's going to be a new girl in her class. However, she's a little upset because now she has to move to the back of the class and sit with the boys. Also, the new girl, Cheyenne, is mean and bossy and considers herself to be extremely mature. Cheyenne and Allie don't get along and Cheyenne becomes Allie's enemy.
Meg Cabot excels at writing from the PoV of a 9 year old girl. While Allie has many childhood fears, doubts and insecurities, she's extremely brave and bold and stands up for what she believes in. I don't remember having Allie's bravery when I was 9 years old and if I had her bravery, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble and hurt.
I also liked reading about the strong friendship that Allie and her friends have and the subplot involving Uncle Jay's romance. I also enjoyed the overall messages of Best Friends and Drama Queens, which are standing up for what you believe in, saying no to peer pressure and not being in a rush to grow up too fast. However, I didn't really enjoy the whole popular mean girl drama and Best Friends and Drama Queens isn't as good as Moving Day and The New Girl.