Footprints in the Sand, by Bracha Goykadosh, is a story of friendship and hope, of secrecy and loss. Rena Cohen, the narrator, is the typical seventh grader whose only worries are school and friends. Malka Koenig is one of Rena's closest friends, but after the eleventh year her life changes drastically and her circle of friends is affected by the change. Even though year 12 is supposed to be a carefree year, it turns out to be a year of learning the true values ​​of life. Rena Cohen had returned from camp cheerful, anticipating her long-awaited senior year of high school. With only two days left to meet her friends, Rena called Malka Koenig and Lizzy Zimmerman and prepared to see them at Café Bonjour. He couldn't wait to hear how Malka had enjoyed her computer programming lessons and how Lizzy had enjoyed her time at camp. At the bar, Rena realized something was wrong. Lizzy and Malka seemed uncomfortable with each other and after only a few minutes, Malka got up and left. Lizzy refused to tell Rena what was wrong, so Rena got up and left too. When school started, things only got worse. Malka insisted that Rena was her best friend, Lizzy insisted that Rena was her best friend, and Rena wasn't so sure she was friends with either of them. One thing was certain: they were no longer the inseparable trio that everyone envied. As the years passed, Rena grew increasingly distant from her once undisputed friends. Their silence disconcerted her and she felt lost in the crowd; by the twelfth even the solitaires had found their place in the grade. Malka became close friends with Tzipporah as they were both leaders of the GO. Lizzy has become friends with a girl named Riva. One day Malka approached Rena and told her that she wanted to tell... middle of paper... why studying for so many tests every evening was an impossible task for her, the answer she gets is amazing. “There are much more difficult things in life,” Malka says. Although Malka's response seems mean and selfish at first, towards the end of the book we find out that she has leukemia. Rena realizes that her friends' struggle is rather trivial, and Ayelet understands what could be more difficult than an abundance of schoolwork. When Malka sadly passes away, her classmates are shocked and sad, but know that they have gained from Malka an understanding of what life is truly about. I really enjoyed reading Footprints in the Sand. It is written with such excellent imagery that I almost cried when I found out Malka had leukemia. Additionally, many great messages are woven into the tale. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!