New friendships, school drama, and a dash of Christmas magic-The Jingle Bell Pact is a feel-good middle grade novel perfect for readers who love heartwarming holiday stories with real-world lessons about kindness and courage.

When Julia moves from Kansas to New York, she's ready for a new start-until she runs into Francesca, leader of the "Gridlock Girls," a group that rules the halls of Bellows Middle School. Luckily, Julia quickly bonds with Savannah, a spirited science lover from Georgia, and the two become inseparable.

But as the holiday season approaches and the school begins planning its annual Jingle Bell Dance, tensions rise. Can Savannah and Julia melt the ice between the "in-crowd" and the new kids by spreading a little Christmas cheer? Or will old grudges ruin their season of joy?

Through laughter, challenges, and the power of friendship, Julia and Savannah learn that the truest gifts aren't wrapped under a tree-they're found in the people who stand by you when things get tough.