Monday, September 2, 2019

Best Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham - ESSENTIAL

Best Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second Books, 2019. $13.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Shannon has started 6th grade and the most popular girl in school is Shannon's best friend Jen. That means Shannon is popular by association, which is wonderful. But navigating friendships in 6th grade is like playing a game where the rules are always changing. Is it OK to like-like boys, and which boys? What TV shows and bands are ok, and which do only nerds like? Her friends are growing up, and things are changing. Shannon hasn't changed, but she may need to to keep her friends. 

Picking up right after "Real Friends" Hale looks at peer pressure, mean girls, fitting in, friendship, inclusion, parents and much more. I loved the fantasy story Shannon is writing, which has been incorporated beautifully into the story. LeUyen Pham is a gifted graphic novel illustrator. I loved the local Utah places. What a delight to read. I'm buying several copies for my library.

Lisa Librarian

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