Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham (graphic novel, grades 4-8)
Friendship can be tough in middle school! Shannon has always counted on Adrienne to be there for her as her best friend. Suddenly, Adrienne has started to hang out with the popular group and while she is still nice to her, Shannon's not sure where she fits in. Sometimes the girls in the popular group include her and other times they don't, which leaves Shannon confused. One of the girls in the popular group is downright mean and acts like a bully towards Shannon. With an older sister who can sometimes be abusive, Shannon is definitely going through a rough transitional time. Real Friends is based on the author's own experiences as a youth. Students in upper elementary or middle school will easily relate to Shannon and her experiences. This graphic novel is easily accessible and can be great tool to discuss bullying, including others, and what it means to be a real friend. After reading this book, students could create their own graphic novel to tell their experiences with friendships or to demonstrate what it means to be a good friend to others.
Happy Reading!
