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Friends #1
Real Friends
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Graphic Novels & Comics (2017)Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale and New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join forces in this graphic memoir about how hard it is to find your real friends―and why it's worth the journey.
When best friends are not forever . . .
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen's #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others.
Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group―or out?
When best friends are not forever . . .
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen's #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others.
Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group―or out?
220 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
About the author
Shannon Hale
108 books13.4k followersShannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.
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June 6, 2017
The autobiography assignment. I don’t pretend to know precisely why teachers give it out or what they hope child readers will get out of it. About ten years ago, when I was a children’s librarian in New York City, it was to be feared. A small child would walk into my room, belly up to the reader’s advisory desk, and ask for an autobiography. You mean a biography? No (of course not, silly librarian). An AUTObiography, see? And there, clear as crystal, was the printed assignment. So like any good librarian I’d take the child to the biography/autobiography section and we’d start to hunt and peck. As it happens, middle grade authors of books for kids really like writing autobiographies. So depending on the age of the child I’d load them down with Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli or Marshfield Dreams by Ralph Fletcher or maybe one of the Beverly Cleary ones like A Girl From Yamhill. Not like there was a lot to pick and choose from. Then, like magic, something changed overnight. Authors started writing more autobiographies and, glory be, they were done in a graphic novel format!!! Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, Sunny Side Up by Jenni Holm, El Deafo by Cece Ball, and The Dumbest Idea Ever by Jimmy Gownley. Sure, there aren’t a ton of these books out there, but they sure pep up the autobiography assignment, I can assure you of that. Now Shannon Hale joins the illustrious crew with a book that zeroes in a single topic: friendship. The good. The bad. The seriously-why-is-this-so-freaking-DIFFICULT!?
When you’re really little, making friends is easy. You sit next to someone in Kindergarten and suddenly they’re your best friend for all time. For Shannon, Adrienne was that friend. Yet when third grade rolled around, things started to change. Suddenly Shannon, Adrienne, a popular girl named Jen, and a whole bunch of other girls are in The Group. That includes Jenny, Jen’s best friend and a dyed-in-the-wool bully to Shannon. Figuring out if she’s out or in can be exhausting for Shannon, and that’s before you even consider her violently unpredictable older sister Wendy or her own OCD. But that’s the thing about true friends sometimes. They sure as heck don’t come easy.
In her Author’s Note at the end Shannon says that “Real Friends it he story I’ve been telling myself about my elementary school years,” yet also acknowledges that “memories aren’t 100 percent accurate.” She mentions that the idea of writing a memoir was a relatively recent one considering the fact that from a drama perspective she had a pretty stable home life. That, naturally, is the allure. With Real Friends Hale zeroes in on a single aspect of childhood: friendship. It’s something a lot of kids have to contend with. In her own Author’s Note, artist LeUyen Pham says her heart, “is still convinced that somehow you [Shannon] crawled inside my memories and handpicked all these events and feelings and insecurities from my childhood and called them your own.” I think that’s the true allure of the title. This is a mirror for a lot of kids who are struggling with friendships. They’re going to see what LeUyen saw and feel it too. There was a movement not too long ago where people on YouTube let teens know that “it gets better”. Shannon’s message is the same. As she puts it, “If you haven’t found your ‘group’ yet, hang in there. Your world will keep growing larger and wider. You deserve to have real friends, the kind who treat you well and get how amazing you are.”
But how do you do it? How do you take faulty memories and etched-in-stone feelings from the past and turn them into a book? On a recent episode of the podcast RadioLab, a lot of discussion was made of the fact that to even access memories, a person needs a lot of imagination. The same could be said of conjuring up memories for a graphic novel. Hindsight may be 20/20 but memory is 3/10. Sometimes it’s necessary to plug the details up with creativity. In a way, Shannon probably had a lot of this book mapped out in her head already. Dwell on something enough and you turn it into a story, complete with dramatic shifts in tension and morality. I particularly appreciated the moments when Shannon, the character, was in the wrong. This book doesn’t usually break down into “good” and “bad” people, but rather into the casual indifferent cruelties of childhood. The off-handed comment you don’t even remember saying that burned a small hole into your friend’s soul. The fact that Shannon’s just as capable of this as anyone gives the book a bit of extra weight.
There’s one other aspect of the book that sets it apart from the pack. Heck, sets it apart from pretty much every children’s graphic novel from a trade publisher I’ve ever seen: religion. Shannon grew up in a Mormon household and so religion is just a regular event in her life. We see prayer, Sunday scriptures, and the occasional Jesus cameo when Shannon is feeling particularly down in the dumps. The only other middle grade graphic novel (comics for 9-12 year olds) I’ve ever seen from a large publisher that incorporates worship as seamlessly would be the books in the Hereville series by Barry Deutsch, and that was Hasidic. Someone once commented that the only sitcom you see on your television these days where a family regularly goes to church is The Simpsons. In children’s books that topic is almost entirely regulated to small religious presses. So I appreciate that Real Friends doesn’t shy away from something that, for a lot of people, is a regular part of life.
And now, a word in praise of LeUyen Pham. Pham and Hale are hardly strangers to one another. For years now they’ve collaborated together on the delightful Zorro-esque Princess in Black series. That said, I haven’t seen Ms. Pham do a graphic novel since she worked on the far older Prince of Persia back in 2008. They take a bit of time to do, after all. What’s more, all the autobiographical graphic novels I mentioned at the beginning of this review were written and illustrated by the same person (always excepting Sunny Side Up which is a brother/sister team). If you bring in an artist to basically illustrate your life, you want someone you can trust. Good thing Ms. Pham is a stickler with accuracy. When she illustrated the nonfiction biography about Paul Erdos The Boy Who Loved Math she went so far as to clarify in her Illustrator's Note at the end that she had to imagine the physical appearance of the boy’s nanny. Real Friends isn’t nonfiction in the strict sense of the word. Characters are combined, timelines are moved up, and names are definitely changed. Still, just looking at the setting you really feel you’re in the 1980s. Pham’s attention to detail is given full reign, whether you’re checking out the computers, the clothes (oh the clothes, the clothes, the clothes) or even the furniture. Not that it’s all coke bottle glasses and Thompson Twins. There’s enough pretend and imagination in these storylines to allow Pham to really stretch her muscles and engage in spy sequences, fantastical journeys, and even the occasional Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.
In many ways the book Real Friends feels the closest to in terms of content and tone is El Deafo by Cece Bell. Both books are quests for true friendship. Both take place in the past (though Bell’s is probably set eight or so years before Hale’s). And both are autobiographical memoirs that look at bad friendships, hurt feelings, and the ultimate reward that all kids can relate to: a good friend. A fun strong book to show kids that even when you haven’t got a real friend in the world, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
For ages 9-12.
When you’re really little, making friends is easy. You sit next to someone in Kindergarten and suddenly they’re your best friend for all time. For Shannon, Adrienne was that friend. Yet when third grade rolled around, things started to change. Suddenly Shannon, Adrienne, a popular girl named Jen, and a whole bunch of other girls are in The Group. That includes Jenny, Jen’s best friend and a dyed-in-the-wool bully to Shannon. Figuring out if she’s out or in can be exhausting for Shannon, and that’s before you even consider her violently unpredictable older sister Wendy or her own OCD. But that’s the thing about true friends sometimes. They sure as heck don’t come easy.
In her Author’s Note at the end Shannon says that “Real Friends it he story I’ve been telling myself about my elementary school years,” yet also acknowledges that “memories aren’t 100 percent accurate.” She mentions that the idea of writing a memoir was a relatively recent one considering the fact that from a drama perspective she had a pretty stable home life. That, naturally, is the allure. With Real Friends Hale zeroes in on a single aspect of childhood: friendship. It’s something a lot of kids have to contend with. In her own Author’s Note, artist LeUyen Pham says her heart, “is still convinced that somehow you [Shannon] crawled inside my memories and handpicked all these events and feelings and insecurities from my childhood and called them your own.” I think that’s the true allure of the title. This is a mirror for a lot of kids who are struggling with friendships. They’re going to see what LeUyen saw and feel it too. There was a movement not too long ago where people on YouTube let teens know that “it gets better”. Shannon’s message is the same. As she puts it, “If you haven’t found your ‘group’ yet, hang in there. Your world will keep growing larger and wider. You deserve to have real friends, the kind who treat you well and get how amazing you are.”
But how do you do it? How do you take faulty memories and etched-in-stone feelings from the past and turn them into a book? On a recent episode of the podcast RadioLab, a lot of discussion was made of the fact that to even access memories, a person needs a lot of imagination. The same could be said of conjuring up memories for a graphic novel. Hindsight may be 20/20 but memory is 3/10. Sometimes it’s necessary to plug the details up with creativity. In a way, Shannon probably had a lot of this book mapped out in her head already. Dwell on something enough and you turn it into a story, complete with dramatic shifts in tension and morality. I particularly appreciated the moments when Shannon, the character, was in the wrong. This book doesn’t usually break down into “good” and “bad” people, but rather into the casual indifferent cruelties of childhood. The off-handed comment you don’t even remember saying that burned a small hole into your friend’s soul. The fact that Shannon’s just as capable of this as anyone gives the book a bit of extra weight.
There’s one other aspect of the book that sets it apart from the pack. Heck, sets it apart from pretty much every children’s graphic novel from a trade publisher I’ve ever seen: religion. Shannon grew up in a Mormon household and so religion is just a regular event in her life. We see prayer, Sunday scriptures, and the occasional Jesus cameo when Shannon is feeling particularly down in the dumps. The only other middle grade graphic novel (comics for 9-12 year olds) I’ve ever seen from a large publisher that incorporates worship as seamlessly would be the books in the Hereville series by Barry Deutsch, and that was Hasidic. Someone once commented that the only sitcom you see on your television these days where a family regularly goes to church is The Simpsons. In children’s books that topic is almost entirely regulated to small religious presses. So I appreciate that Real Friends doesn’t shy away from something that, for a lot of people, is a regular part of life.
And now, a word in praise of LeUyen Pham. Pham and Hale are hardly strangers to one another. For years now they’ve collaborated together on the delightful Zorro-esque Princess in Black series. That said, I haven’t seen Ms. Pham do a graphic novel since she worked on the far older Prince of Persia back in 2008. They take a bit of time to do, after all. What’s more, all the autobiographical graphic novels I mentioned at the beginning of this review were written and illustrated by the same person (always excepting Sunny Side Up which is a brother/sister team). If you bring in an artist to basically illustrate your life, you want someone you can trust. Good thing Ms. Pham is a stickler with accuracy. When she illustrated the nonfiction biography about Paul Erdos The Boy Who Loved Math she went so far as to clarify in her Illustrator's Note at the end that she had to imagine the physical appearance of the boy’s nanny. Real Friends isn’t nonfiction in the strict sense of the word. Characters are combined, timelines are moved up, and names are definitely changed. Still, just looking at the setting you really feel you’re in the 1980s. Pham’s attention to detail is given full reign, whether you’re checking out the computers, the clothes (oh the clothes, the clothes, the clothes) or even the furniture. Not that it’s all coke bottle glasses and Thompson Twins. There’s enough pretend and imagination in these storylines to allow Pham to really stretch her muscles and engage in spy sequences, fantastical journeys, and even the occasional Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.
In many ways the book Real Friends feels the closest to in terms of content and tone is El Deafo by Cece Bell. Both books are quests for true friendship. Both take place in the past (though Bell’s is probably set eight or so years before Hale’s). And both are autobiographical memoirs that look at bad friendships, hurt feelings, and the ultimate reward that all kids can relate to: a good friend. A fun strong book to show kids that even when you haven’t got a real friend in the world, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
For ages 9-12.
September 16, 2017
Perfect for a 10-year-old, Real Friends looks at the complex relationships among elementary school girls. It teaches readers that good friends don't treat you badly.
It also delves into the thorny issues of sibling abuse and rivalry, bullying and crushes.
I liked Real Friends not only for its story, but also for the way that it allowed me to connect with my child. We read the book together and shared our thoughts on friendships.
The author, Shannon Hale, based this book on her real life experiences. She includes snapshots from her own childhood on the last couple of pages.
It is a great graphic novel for young readers. Highly recommended.
It also delves into the thorny issues of sibling abuse and rivalry, bullying and crushes.
I liked Real Friends not only for its story, but also for the way that it allowed me to connect with my child. We read the book together and shared our thoughts on friendships.
The author, Shannon Hale, based this book on her real life experiences. She includes snapshots from her own childhood on the last couple of pages.
It is a great graphic novel for young readers. Highly recommended.
August 10, 2018
I've had my eye on this graphic novel memoir set in the 80s for awhile now, so I was beyond keen on getting my reading on. I sped through this thrilling ride in one big whirlwind.
When best friends are not forever . . .
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen's #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others.
Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group―or out?
This book, to be honest, made me feel utterly frightened for my nine-year-old sister. Like, what kind of fresh hell is going on in the American education system where the amount of bullying Shannon went through in the fourth grade was completely overlooked to the point of oblivion.
This is frightening... The amount of pain and suffering school can bring to a child made me that feel sure about my decision to homeschool.
I was then also gobsmacked by the abuse Shannon experienced at the hands of her older sister, looking to alleviate her own pain by putting it all on this little girl. I mean, if it's unacceptable to hit a nine-year-old stranger, then it sure as hell is unacceptable to hit your own sister.
I'm still shellshocked at this panel.
This poor kid experienced utter terror in her own home. Shannon ran to hide just at the sound of Wendy's voice and that had me nearly in tears.
Please, treat your younger siblings with all the love and respect you have.
Shannon's perspective gave us a very keen look on her girlhood, and it made me understand certain outbursts kids might have with a more clear eye. Like, when she was "playing" with her siblings and starts crying when caught, not at her loss but at the overwhelming build-up of emotions from feeling left out. It made me remember that kids tearing up isn't usually about the situation at hand but about something much deeper in their heads that only they have the knowledge about. And it's our jobs to show them that they can trust us enough to share their thoughts.
On a more uplifting note,
Real Friends
has some incredible art that I'd like to highlight by sharing a few favorite panels of mine:
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September 21, 2022
I want to be nice, but I can't let Jenny keep hurting me. pg. 201
Great graphic novel for kids, probably aimed at girls in elementary school.
It's MC, Shannon, is dealing with an abusive older sister at home and a toxic friend-group at school. She doesn't like the girls in The Group, but is too young and inexperienced to break away from them.
The whole book is about her navigating these minefields. She discusses her abusive sister with her parents, but they say 'they don't want to get involved,' and just let the older sister abuse her verbally and mentally, often culminating in Shannon crouched, hiding in the bushes to escape her sister's ire.
Things at school aren't much better as she is at the whims of girls more popular than her who are catty, cruel, lie about her, and say hateful things to her. Still they masquerade as 'friends.' Shannon always dreams of escaping, of having 'true friends,' but doesn't see a way out of the cycle. Her pleas to the girls she likes more to break free from The Group fall on deaf ears.
Shannon is a Mormon and prays frequently. Jesus is a part of her life. The book isn't preachy or anything, and people in more religious Christian families - Mormon or not - might appreciate a book with a religious child who obviously believes in Jesus and prays. Shannon also struggles with how her behavior fits in with what she's been taught about being a good Christian. Does this mean she has to be kind and forgiving to her bully?
I'm happy to report This more positive, anti-bullying message is a welcome relief after reading something like Clash by Kayla Miller in which a child is made to forgive her bully and be nice to her, a concept I find not only revolting but damaging to a child's mental health and well-being.
There's also a scene near the beginning where you can talk to your child about sexual assault if you are so inclined. One boy holds Shannon back while another grabs Adrienne and forcefully kisses her over and over. Shannon breaks free and hits the guy holding her (good for her!) but when she rescues Adrienne, Adrienne is mad at her and tells her she was enjoying being kissed. Very complicated messages here. Might be worth examining consent, sexual assault, and etc. with the child you are reading with.
Parents would be smart to pick this one up, especially if their girl-child is struggling with mean-girl problems at school.
TL;DR Good anti-bullying message. Even though kids are inexperienced about protecting themselves and standing up for themselves, they can learn. A parent could also read this book and take something away from it about listening to your child. Shannon is often taken to the doctor for stomach-pain and other physical problems caused by being both bullied at home by her older sister and at school. The parents callous dismissal of Shannon pleading for help against her sister is chilling. They just don't want to fucking deal with it. So Shannon is forced to put up with being unsafe in her own home. Also features a strong Christian MC if that is your jam. Even if it isn't, it's not a big deal - the book is not preachy or anything.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
Great graphic novel for kids, probably aimed at girls in elementary school.
It's MC, Shannon, is dealing with an abusive older sister at home and a toxic friend-group at school. She doesn't like the girls in The Group, but is too young and inexperienced to break away from them.
The whole book is about her navigating these minefields. She discusses her abusive sister with her parents, but they say 'they don't want to get involved,' and just let the older sister abuse her verbally and mentally, often culminating in Shannon crouched, hiding in the bushes to escape her sister's ire.
Things at school aren't much better as she is at the whims of girls more popular than her who are catty, cruel, lie about her, and say hateful things to her. Still they masquerade as 'friends.' Shannon always dreams of escaping, of having 'true friends,' but doesn't see a way out of the cycle. Her pleas to the girls she likes more to break free from The Group fall on deaf ears.
Shannon is a Mormon and prays frequently. Jesus is a part of her life. The book isn't preachy or anything, and people in more religious Christian families - Mormon or not - might appreciate a book with a religious child who obviously believes in Jesus and prays. Shannon also struggles with how her behavior fits in with what she's been taught about being a good Christian. Does this mean she has to be kind and forgiving to her bully?
I'm happy to report This more positive, anti-bullying message is a welcome relief after reading something like Clash by Kayla Miller in which a child is made to forgive her bully and be nice to her, a concept I find not only revolting but damaging to a child's mental health and well-being.
There's also a scene near the beginning where you can talk to your child about sexual assault if you are so inclined. One boy holds Shannon back while another grabs Adrienne and forcefully kisses her over and over. Shannon breaks free and hits the guy holding her (good for her!) but when she rescues Adrienne, Adrienne is mad at her and tells her she was enjoying being kissed. Very complicated messages here. Might be worth examining consent, sexual assault, and etc. with the child you are reading with.
Parents would be smart to pick this one up, especially if their girl-child is struggling with mean-girl problems at school.
TL;DR Good anti-bullying message. Even though kids are inexperienced about protecting themselves and standing up for themselves, they can learn. A parent could also read this book and take something away from it about listening to your child. Shannon is often taken to the doctor for stomach-pain and other physical problems caused by being both bullied at home by her older sister and at school. The parents callous dismissal of Shannon pleading for help against her sister is chilling. They just don't want to fucking deal with it. So Shannon is forced to put up with being unsafe in her own home. Also features a strong Christian MC if that is your jam. Even if it isn't, it's not a big deal - the book is not preachy or anything.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
March 15, 2018
Accurate to the point of heartbreaking, this is a very honest look at the complexities of friendship and family dynamics. Some of this felt like it was copied from my Cabbage Kid Diary, some of it made me grateful that it never happened to me. Such an important read for kids and parents! This is a good one to have the whole family read and discuss, not forgetting the author's note at the back.
And of course the art is just amazing, love LeUyen's work. Just stunning.
And of course the art is just amazing, love LeUyen's work. Just stunning.
September 21, 2019
"Friendship in younger years can be especially hard because our worlds are small. If you haven't found your 'group' yet, hang in there. Your world will keep growing larger and wider. You deserve to have real friends, the kind who treat you well and get how amazing you are."
I didn't realize this was a memoir about Hale's elementary school years! That made it all the more awesome. I hate cliques, so I could relate to Shannon's loneliness when her best friend joins "the group." I sometimes wish I could go back in time to grade school as the person I am now, and just not care so much about what people thought. But like Hale quoted above, that's just the way we understand things when we are young. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves as adults that we deserve friends that will treat us kindly. Highly recommend to everyone!
I didn't realize this was a memoir about Hale's elementary school years! That made it all the more awesome. I hate cliques, so I could relate to Shannon's loneliness when her best friend joins "the group." I sometimes wish I could go back in time to grade school as the person I am now, and just not care so much about what people thought. But like Hale quoted above, that's just the way we understand things when we are young. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves as adults that we deserve friends that will treat us kindly. Highly recommend to everyone!
October 20, 2019
Real Friends will be highly relatable to many. This is a nonfiction, graphic-novel account of author Shannon Hale's elementary years up to 5th grade, specifically, her upsetting experiences with friendship. Going only by the title and cover art, I thought this would be a mostly feel-good story about friendships that grow into the solid kind that last a lifetime. It's the opposite. Hale struggled with a selfish clique of popular girls who included her in their group sometimes but simply tolerated her when she was in, then outright shunned her.
Real Friends's story line definitely isn't unique, but Hale effectively captured the painful, and sometimes scary, dynamics of cliques, especially the all-consuming loneliness the shunned feel. I related to the story, as I became the shunned in 6th grade, my worst school year, with memories that remain some of my most vivid and pain that's somehow still very sharp. I also witnessed others get mocked and shunned, usually for superficial reasons, such as one nice girl the grade above me who was shunned because of her raging acne. Children have a breath-taking lack of, or very little, empathy, and Hale's account is powerful in its highlighting of how absolutely essential empathy is.
I recommend this for children and adults, though children probably will get more out of it. Hale's sequel is Best Friends, which I'll read next.
Real Friends's story line definitely isn't unique, but Hale effectively captured the painful, and sometimes scary, dynamics of cliques, especially the all-consuming loneliness the shunned feel. I related to the story, as I became the shunned in 6th grade, my worst school year, with memories that remain some of my most vivid and pain that's somehow still very sharp. I also witnessed others get mocked and shunned, usually for superficial reasons, such as one nice girl the grade above me who was shunned because of her raging acne. Children have a breath-taking lack of, or very little, empathy, and Hale's account is powerful in its highlighting of how absolutely essential empathy is.
I recommend this for children and adults, though children probably will get more out of it. Hale's sequel is Best Friends, which I'll read next.
July 1, 2017
I got this graphic memoir from the library for my 5th grader. I can't believe I have a 5th grader. She has the kindest heart, she is much smarter, funnier, and more athletic than I ever recall being (ever) but guess what? I still hear reports about girls calling her weird, about girls forming groups, about the timeless, treacherous terrain of elementary school friendship. Children today are educated about bullying and my girl puts up with nothing, but at the end of the day, we all just want to feel loved and valued. I love this book for putting it all out there and presenting a relatable tale that explores the ups and downs of making friends for this age group. The illustrations were fantastic and offset what was overall a pretty sad but realistic story. The Author's Note adds some clarity and depth, while driving home the core message that everyone deserves kind friends who appreciate them.
Tomorrow my oldest friend is coming down with her teen girls. We have been best friends since junior high. I always remind my daughter when she has had a rough day that the truest gems aren't easy to find...and I tell her that I'm not friends with a single person I knew in elementary school, but my closest friends are spun gold. I can't wait to discuss this book with my daughter. I will edit my review to add her thoughts. 4 stars
Tomorrow my oldest friend is coming down with her teen girls. We have been best friends since junior high. I always remind my daughter when she has had a rough day that the truest gems aren't easy to find...and I tell her that I'm not friends with a single person I knew in elementary school, but my closest friends are spun gold. I can't wait to discuss this book with my daughter. I will edit my review to add her thoughts. 4 stars
Shelved as 'first-second-publications'
May 2, 2017Following little Shannon's life from kindergarten through fifth grade, Real Friends captures the emotional roller coaster ride of friendship, from navigating the tricky waters of cliques and bullies to her never-ending struggle to stay in "The Group." Shannon’s honest and heartfelt story reminds us of how hard it was to learn what real friends are—and why finding them is worth the journey.
July 4, 2020
Although I do have to admit that I probably would have enjoyed Shannon Hale's autobiographical middle grade Real Friends considerably more in a non graphic novel format (mostly because I do think that LeUyen Pham's accompanying illustrations, whilst bright and descriptive, were and are just a bit too cartoony for my own aesthetic tastes and perhaps also my present mood), I have indeed found Real Friends both engaging and evocative (and also very much and in a painful manner reminiscent of my own childhood and how difficult and fraught with emotional turmoil making and keeping friends could be, and that school with its cliques often was anything but enjoyable, often at best somewhat problematic, with bullying especially being a constant spectre). And while therefore I actually have found much of Real Friends more than a bit too close for comfort and thus a reading experience that I have personally found not all that pleasant in and of itself, I still very much appreciate Shannon Hale's candour and that she has basically opened up her soul and her memories to write a personal account of her childhood and the issues she had to face both at school and at home (something that likely must have been difficult, but might also have felt liberating).
Now I do have to admit that part of me does rather chafe at the fact that in Real Friends, when it is obvious that Shannon is being both verbally and sometimes even physically tormented by her older sister Wendy, her mother basically seems to just walk away and tell Shannon that she is on her own so to speak. For while by the end of Real Friends (and after also having perused the included author's note), I do have much more of an understanding of Wendy and why she behaves and acts in the manner she does and has been, and even if I do appreciate the ending of Real Friends in so far that Wendy and Shannon seem to finally be willing and able to call somewhat of a truce and have a bit more acceptance and understanding of and for one another, I still do believe that considering how much of Wendy's anger and her outbursts at Shannon often were physically violent, that really, and for both Wendy's and Shannon's sake, the mother should have been much more proactive (but then again, I also very much consider Shannon Hale's honesty both refreshing and necessary, and that telling even younger readers the truth about bullying, about abuse, about family dysfunction and the like is most certainly much much better than pretending it away, making light of, not mentioning it).
Now I do have to admit that part of me does rather chafe at the fact that in Real Friends, when it is obvious that Shannon is being both verbally and sometimes even physically tormented by her older sister Wendy, her mother basically seems to just walk away and tell Shannon that she is on her own so to speak. For while by the end of Real Friends (and after also having perused the included author's note), I do have much more of an understanding of Wendy and why she behaves and acts in the manner she does and has been, and even if I do appreciate the ending of Real Friends in so far that Wendy and Shannon seem to finally be willing and able to call somewhat of a truce and have a bit more acceptance and understanding of and for one another, I still do believe that considering how much of Wendy's anger and her outbursts at Shannon often were physically violent, that really, and for both Wendy's and Shannon's sake, the mother should have been much more proactive (but then again, I also very much consider Shannon Hale's honesty both refreshing and necessary, and that telling even younger readers the truth about bullying, about abuse, about family dysfunction and the like is most certainly much much better than pretending it away, making light of, not mentioning it).
January 24, 2021
Yeah I pretty much read it overnight in one sitting! This memoir was a great read, though I loved book 2 a bit more. This book deals with bullies, both at home and at school. Definitely hard being kids even though their main goal was to find one best friend. The next day I questioned my third grader if he was bullied in school and unfortunately yes and that it happened last year in second grade. I'm heartbroken that kids so young and already know how to be so cruel. Graphic novels are fast reads and I'm loving it. This memoir written this way makes the read fun and easy. The illustrations were excellent as well.
This book followed Shannon, being the middle child at age 6 who was often alone. Her two older sisters had each other because they were close in age as well as her two younger sister and brother. At school, she had trouble making friends. Eventually she was part of a group of friends but she was picked last as a favorite of the most popular girl in her grade. One mean girl in the group often made her cried. At home her older sister was mean to her. Shannon couldn't do anything right by her sister and she often run from the room crying. Until one day, Shannon happened to have a new group of friends in school where even the mean girl wanted to join.
Real Friends was a good read for kids everywhere. My third grader read twice on each book and like me, he also liked book 2 a bit more. Being a memoir, the experiences of feeling alone, feeling left out, feeling difficult to make friends are real that kids everywhere can easily relate to. I was not the popular girl in school and I wasn't part of the popular group so I was not aware of girls fighting over each other to sit on the right and on the left of the popular girl in school. That part got me wondering about my son but he said his school assigned lunch seats so that's even better! I recommend everyone to read this duology! I already recommended my sister-in-law to get the books for her kids!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book followed Shannon, being the middle child at age 6 who was often alone. Her two older sisters had each other because they were close in age as well as her two younger sister and brother. At school, she had trouble making friends. Eventually she was part of a group of friends but she was picked last as a favorite of the most popular girl in her grade. One mean girl in the group often made her cried. At home her older sister was mean to her. Shannon couldn't do anything right by her sister and she often run from the room crying. Until one day, Shannon happened to have a new group of friends in school where even the mean girl wanted to join.
Real Friends was a good read for kids everywhere. My third grader read twice on each book and like me, he also liked book 2 a bit more. Being a memoir, the experiences of feeling alone, feeling left out, feeling difficult to make friends are real that kids everywhere can easily relate to. I was not the popular girl in school and I wasn't part of the popular group so I was not aware of girls fighting over each other to sit on the right and on the left of the popular girl in school. That part got me wondering about my son but he said his school assigned lunch seats so that's even better! I recommend everyone to read this duology! I already recommended my sister-in-law to get the books for her kids!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
May 7, 2017
The cover on my arc edition is so much nicer! 
Oh my god, this was awesome. Real Friends is a brief yet heartfelt tale of being the outcast in a middle school.
This book stands out from other books about the same topic because of its emotional heart. Never does this story feel fake or fictional; it's effortlessly real. That's for a reason, given that this book is based off the author's own experiences. It was very easy to empathize with the main character.
I loved the emphasis on being real with your friends, on the ability to laugh at anything. There's such a true, healthy portrayal of friendship here. It's such a great message for middle-grade readers.
The art style is clean and pretty, with good shading. I could tell everyone apart with ease.
VERDICT: A fantastic middle-grade graphic novel. Definitely recommended towards any children, but it's honestly so short adults could read it and love it too.
Oh my god, this was awesome. Real Friends is a brief yet heartfelt tale of being the outcast in a middle school.
This book stands out from other books about the same topic because of its emotional heart. Never does this story feel fake or fictional; it's effortlessly real. That's for a reason, given that this book is based off the author's own experiences. It was very easy to empathize with the main character.
I loved the emphasis on being real with your friends, on the ability to laugh at anything. There's such a true, healthy portrayal of friendship here. It's such a great message for middle-grade readers.
The art style is clean and pretty, with good shading. I could tell everyone apart with ease.
VERDICT: A fantastic middle-grade graphic novel. Definitely recommended towards any children, but it's honestly so short adults could read it and love it too.
May 16, 2017
Why is it so much easier to have virtual friends than real friends? Couldn't we just walk up to someone, and say, "You wanna be my pal?"
Shannon Hale takes a look at the difficult prospect of making and keeping friends in this terrific graphic novel. We follow the author through her sometimes lonely years at elementary school when her best (and only) friend joins a clique comprised of popular girls. Shannon gets to hover around the periphery of the group, but never really "belongs" to the gang.
This one brought back memories from my own childhood - the constantly shifting loyalties, hurt feelings, and jealousy over old friends' new relationships. You meet someone you have a lot in common with; you should be lifelong friends, right? It seems like it should be so easy, but it's not.
I'm glad our library ordered a copy of this book. I'm planning on pressing it into the hands of many of the little girls I encounter.
Shannon Hale takes a look at the difficult prospect of making and keeping friends in this terrific graphic novel. We follow the author through her sometimes lonely years at elementary school when her best (and only) friend joins a clique comprised of popular girls. Shannon gets to hover around the periphery of the group, but never really "belongs" to the gang.
This one brought back memories from my own childhood - the constantly shifting loyalties, hurt feelings, and jealousy over old friends' new relationships. You meet someone you have a lot in common with; you should be lifelong friends, right? It seems like it should be so easy, but it's not.
I'm glad our library ordered a copy of this book. I'm planning on pressing it into the hands of many of the little girls I encounter.
March 5, 2021
This review does contain a few spoilers...
3.5 Stars
Real Friends is a graphic novel, the first book in a duo-logy, Real Friends, I read it because, well, I love graphic novel's plus, I kinda thought it'd be fun to read, a short, quick read.
Plot, of the book starts with Shannon, who make a friend, Adrienne, they are friends for quite some time until, Adrienne moves, and everything goes wrong, but then she moves back, but now Adrienne's friends with the popular kids, then later so is Shannon, but then a lot goes wrong...
I liked the plot, a lot happened, and the book went at pretty good speed. The only thing was that once of twice stuff happened too quickly, like when Adrienne moved back again, it just happened, like soo, quickly. Also it ended too fast, I though more was gonna happen, but it didn't which wasn't a bad thing, will just have to the read the next one then.
The Characters
Shannon
I can kinda relate to Shannon, cause in a way way she's kinda like me, but she is also like the opposite of me. Since she actually, decided to leave the "Group" be friendless, for a bit, which was sad, cause I think everyone needs a friend.
Jenny
Well, I obviously HATE, Jenny, she's such a JERK, She's one of those popular girls, who only cares about being popular, and not about other people much, I HATE people like Jenny. Especially since she was so mean to Shannon
Jen
Anyways, in the beginning I thought Jen was gonna be like Jenny, but Jen was actually pretty nice, almost all the time, I especially liked when she told Shannon that she wanted to join her group and leave the "Group"
(What I find interesting, is that there seem to be so many people in there school, named Jennifer, while in my school, I've never met a Jennifer or anyone who has nickname from Jennifer.)
Adrienne
I kinda wish there was more about Adrienne, it would've been nice, but otherwise, Adrienne was nice, but I felt like she was starting to popular like Jen, so not in a bad way. Also, that Adrienne seemed to keep going away, which I found surprising (That's the only word I can think of to explain it)
Why'd I rate it 4 Stars Technically 3.5 stars?
I rated it 4 stars technically 3.5 because, I liked it, but the plot of the book, didn't really go with the title, plus, there was like to instances when the book went to fast, that I could barly catch up.
Overall, this wasn't a bad book, but it should've been names something else cause the the title is kinda misleading.
3.5 Stars
Real Friends is a graphic novel, the first book in a duo-logy, Real Friends, I read it because, well, I love graphic novel's plus, I kinda thought it'd be fun to read, a short, quick read.
Plot, of the book starts with Shannon, who make a friend, Adrienne, they are friends for quite some time until, Adrienne moves, and everything goes wrong, but then she moves back, but now Adrienne's friends with the popular kids, then later so is Shannon, but then a lot goes wrong...
I liked the plot, a lot happened, and the book went at pretty good speed. The only thing was that once of twice stuff happened too quickly, like when Adrienne moved back again, it just happened, like soo, quickly. Also it ended too fast, I though more was gonna happen, but it didn't which wasn't a bad thing, will just have to the read the next one then.
The Characters
Shannon
I can kinda relate to Shannon, cause in a way way she's kinda like me, but she is also like the opposite of me. Since she actually, decided to leave the "Group" be friendless, for a bit, which was sad, cause I think everyone needs a friend.
Jenny
Well, I obviously HATE, Jenny, she's such a JERK, She's one of those popular girls, who only cares about being popular, and not about other people much, I HATE people like Jenny. Especially since she was so mean to Shannon
Jen
Anyways, in the beginning I thought Jen was gonna be like Jenny, but Jen was actually pretty nice, almost all the time, I especially liked when she told Shannon that she wanted to join her group and leave the "Group"
(What I find interesting, is that there seem to be so many people in there school, named Jennifer, while in my school, I've never met a Jennifer or anyone who has nickname from Jennifer.)
Adrienne
I kinda wish there was more about Adrienne, it would've been nice, but otherwise, Adrienne was nice, but I felt like she was starting to popular like Jen, so not in a bad way. Also, that Adrienne seemed to keep going away, which I found surprising (That's the only word I can think of to explain it)
Why'd I rate it 4 Stars Technically 3.5 stars?
I rated it 4 stars technically 3.5 because, I liked it, but the plot of the book, didn't really go with the title, plus, there was like to instances when the book went to fast, that I could barly catch up.
Overall, this wasn't a bad book, but it should've been names something else cause the the title is kinda misleading.
April 29, 2018
i really liked the plot & illustrations in this book. i think it moved at a nice pace and it was a fun, easy read.
December 30, 2017
This is a very sweet graphic novel about friendship. I really enjoyed it. It was just the kind of book I needed to read right now.
July 11, 2017
Like many, my tween years were rough. Actually, that’s a vast understatement. I spent most of sixth grade hiding in my bedroom, trying to will myself into the narrow constraints my school’s resident Mean Girls set for us. Were GAP jeans cool this week? Or was it The Limited? Is 90210 still a thing? And if so, am I supposed to hate Brenda or Kelly? Is Brandon or Dylan the cute one? All I wanted to do was ride my bike and play with Barbies. Not read YM magazine and debate the finer points of lipgloss application. When I turned to books for either advice or solace, as any reader does, no narrative ever fully captured the social complexities, hurt, and confusion I was experiencing. Most did the one thing I swear I’d never do as an adult: develop an unusual case of amnesia that causes one to forget how truly earth-shattering and soul-crushing friendship problems are when you’re a kid. That combined with the 30-minute, Full House solution where the adult enters at the end & magically all problems vanish. NEWSFLASH TV EXECS: THIS DOES NOT WORK IN REAL LIFE. So when I read Real Friends, Shannon Hale’s graphic novel describing her personal experience with the complicated elementary school social scene, I. JUST. ABOUT. DIED.
I love Shannon Hale normally. She’s a ya goddess. But y’all….this book is PERFECTION. I’ve never read a book that more accurately depicts tween friendship problems than Real Friends. It legit felt like Shannon read my mind and translated my memories into graphic novel form. Shannon, forever an introverted reader and writer, and her bestie Adrienne are like two peas in a pod until Adrienne joins the dreaded popular group. Shannon is granted partial admission due to association, but never quite figures out how to navigate the choppy waters. Some days she’s in, some days she’s out, and Shannon can never quite decode the seemingly unspoken social rules that other girls seem to master effortlessly. Worse still, the competition to be #1 or rather sidekick to #1, results in the kind of insidious girl-on-girl bullying that plagues our society.
Real Friends never gives a pat ending. It exists in shades of grey that are more reminiscent of our life experiences. What I particularly love is that the book subtly explores personal boundaries and communicates that it’s okay and even necessary to advocate for your own. It’s a message so many girls, and even women, aren’t given. We’re supposed to be sweet and kind to all people even when grossly mistreated. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. No lie, if I could personally hand deliver this to every tween I would.
I love Shannon Hale normally. She’s a ya goddess. But y’all….this book is PERFECTION. I’ve never read a book that more accurately depicts tween friendship problems than Real Friends. It legit felt like Shannon read my mind and translated my memories into graphic novel form. Shannon, forever an introverted reader and writer, and her bestie Adrienne are like two peas in a pod until Adrienne joins the dreaded popular group. Shannon is granted partial admission due to association, but never quite figures out how to navigate the choppy waters. Some days she’s in, some days she’s out, and Shannon can never quite decode the seemingly unspoken social rules that other girls seem to master effortlessly. Worse still, the competition to be #1 or rather sidekick to #1, results in the kind of insidious girl-on-girl bullying that plagues our society.
Real Friends never gives a pat ending. It exists in shades of grey that are more reminiscent of our life experiences. What I particularly love is that the book subtly explores personal boundaries and communicates that it’s okay and even necessary to advocate for your own. It’s a message so many girls, and even women, aren’t given. We’re supposed to be sweet and kind to all people even when grossly mistreated. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. No lie, if I could personally hand deliver this to every tween I would.
August 15, 2021
One of the best young readers' graphic novels ever!
I do love reading such relatable stories because I feel everyone of us has a story like this we all live with.
The story brings back so many memories of my childhood and school days.
Bullies are everywhere. I still remember a bunch of this so called "popular girls" groups and they were being mean whenever we were left alone.
I like how the siblings relationship is so realistic and presented so well.
I just love everything about this graphic novel. Just read it when you have the chance.
I do love reading such relatable stories because I feel everyone of us has a story like this we all live with.
The story brings back so many memories of my childhood and school days.
Bullies are everywhere. I still remember a bunch of this so called "popular girls" groups and they were being mean whenever we were left alone.
I like how the siblings relationship is so realistic and presented so well.
I just love everything about this graphic novel. Just read it when you have the chance.
Read
May 10, 2022Excellent graphic memoir of author Shannon Hale's struggle with friendship from 2nd through 6th grade. Very relatable for any kids who are struggling today, or anyone who has ever felt left out.
--Diana F.
--Diana F.
June 8, 2017
My blog post.
Shannon Hale's Real Friends was a Reading Without Walls challenge for me. That is, as a child and still today, I'm not much of a group person, most likely related to my introversion. From childhood on I can recall being part of groups of people I liked, but they almost always wanted to spend way more time together than I did. Shyness is probably also a factor as we moved a lot and so I was never in a school more than three years. This made me happy to find just a single friend. Now Shannon wanted this too, but in her case the single good friend always seems to be tied to bigger group politics which was not my experience. So I wasn't gravitating to read this one, but did because of Gene's challenge and because this is so much the reality of many children and especially my students.
That is, I've been a classroom teacher for decades and have observed and helped kids navigate friendships throughout that time. Sometimes it is one person snubbing another, sometimes it a group thing (with the popping up of clubs always a sign that someone is probably being excluded), sometimes it is sweet and lovely, and sometimes it is mean and vile and intractable. And so while I didn't read Real Friends for nostalgic or personal reasons, I did read it because it was so real and raw in terms of many children's reality.
Shannon's description of the ups and downs of friendship and, especially, the complicated dynamics of groups and popularity are vividly and honestly done. For kids for whom this resonates this book will be a life-saver, something that will speak to them, that they will see themselves in. Or perhaps they are yearning to be part of a group --- this may help them understand it isn't necessarily nirvana. I appreciated that Shannon isn't represented as perfect when part of a group by any means --- she doesn't do the usual forgiving of one culprit, she doesn't significantly help another bullied child (authentically being too self-absorbed in her own woes to do more than recognize her and talk to her when they are thrown together). Kudos to Shannon for being so authentic and real and honest. As an adult, I found the family dynamics most potent, especially her relationship with her big sister. Shannon doesn't hold back and, boy, is some of it rough. Fortunately, there seems to be the start of a better understanding at the end and more in the afterward that is reassuring for any who worried about Wendy.
A piercingly honest view into the complicated social life of one young girl that is certain to resonate for all who have observed, participated, or otherwise experienced the difficult dynamics of school friendships.
Shannon Hale's Real Friends was a Reading Without Walls challenge for me. That is, as a child and still today, I'm not much of a group person, most likely related to my introversion. From childhood on I can recall being part of groups of people I liked, but they almost always wanted to spend way more time together than I did. Shyness is probably also a factor as we moved a lot and so I was never in a school more than three years. This made me happy to find just a single friend. Now Shannon wanted this too, but in her case the single good friend always seems to be tied to bigger group politics which was not my experience. So I wasn't gravitating to read this one, but did because of Gene's challenge and because this is so much the reality of many children and especially my students.
That is, I've been a classroom teacher for decades and have observed and helped kids navigate friendships throughout that time. Sometimes it is one person snubbing another, sometimes it a group thing (with the popping up of clubs always a sign that someone is probably being excluded), sometimes it is sweet and lovely, and sometimes it is mean and vile and intractable. And so while I didn't read Real Friends for nostalgic or personal reasons, I did read it because it was so real and raw in terms of many children's reality.
Shannon's description of the ups and downs of friendship and, especially, the complicated dynamics of groups and popularity are vividly and honestly done. For kids for whom this resonates this book will be a life-saver, something that will speak to them, that they will see themselves in. Or perhaps they are yearning to be part of a group --- this may help them understand it isn't necessarily nirvana. I appreciated that Shannon isn't represented as perfect when part of a group by any means --- she doesn't do the usual forgiving of one culprit, she doesn't significantly help another bullied child (authentically being too self-absorbed in her own woes to do more than recognize her and talk to her when they are thrown together). Kudos to Shannon for being so authentic and real and honest. As an adult, I found the family dynamics most potent, especially her relationship with her big sister. Shannon doesn't hold back and, boy, is some of it rough. Fortunately, there seems to be the start of a better understanding at the end and more in the afterward that is reassuring for any who worried about Wendy.
A piercingly honest view into the complicated social life of one young girl that is certain to resonate for all who have observed, participated, or otherwise experienced the difficult dynamics of school friendships.
December 6, 2017
Hmmmm. For some reason I deeply dislike this book. I am going to read a bit more work by the author and perhaps read it again and see if I change my mind. It's just kind of unhappy and uncomfortable and episodic with wonderful moments of imagination playing out in comic form, but mostly just a bunch of unlikeable characters we don't get to know very well. the book brings up a lot of issues (anxiety, ocd type symptoms, sibling abuse or cruelty, seemingly emotionally absent or neglectful parents, shitty 'friends', icky cliques, loneliness, school-related social power dynamics, finding "real friends" after years of trying to fit in with not so real ones) but doesn't explore or resolve them in a way that is very satisfying. (Resolutions seem to happen super fast and without meaningful context, or not at all.)
Some people compare this to "Smile" by Raina Telgemeier, but I loved Smile. the storytelling was a bit more focused and playful and intimate and offered, at least in my reading, a depth of character and experience that this didn't.
So, that's my thoughts for now. I'm still trying to make sense of my deep dislike (I think feeling "meh" about it would make more sense to me.)
Some people compare this to "Smile" by Raina Telgemeier, but I loved Smile. the storytelling was a bit more focused and playful and intimate and offered, at least in my reading, a depth of character and experience that this didn't.
So, that's my thoughts for now. I'm still trying to make sense of my deep dislike (I think feeling "meh" about it would make more sense to me.)
November 22, 2017
Not for me, and I would have given 1 star, but for the afterword by Shannon Hale, explaining her reasons for telling the story. Reminded me of Smile, which I also disliked for some of the same reasons. Basically, this is a book about the mean girls, where you are in the popular group and put up with the shenanigans or you're not/don't. Shannon tried to fit in, but ultimately could not abide this behavior, but then she completely ignored a girl with similar ostracism, when they met behind a bush in the schoolyard. Run away.
December 26, 2017
3 Populars are not always happy STARS
Primero una anécdota:
Para esta navidad decidí regalar Novelas gráficas, a mi hija y mis 2 ahijadas. Este libro lo vi recomendado por todos lados. Así que lo compre para regalarlo.
Pero al leerlo me di cuenta de que la protagonista y su familia son cristianos (creo), inclusive hay una escena donde aparece Jesucristo. Personalmente no me afecta. Pero si están pensando regalárselo a alguien, asegúrense de que el tópico religioso no les vaya a molestar a otros.
Al final termine regresándolo y comprando otro.
Ahora sí, hablemos de Real Friends:
📚 SINOPSIS HONESTA:
Este es un libro sobre una de las cosas que mas odio en este mundo, un grupito de niñas “populares”, le hacen la vida imposible al resto de niñas en la primaria.
Es una historia muy entretenida, pero tiene algo que no me convenció.
Es un libro que me tuvo con un sentimiento de tristeza continua, inclusive en los momentos donde la protagonista trataba de ser valiente.
En especial me sentí muy mal, cuando describen a las 2 chicas mas populares, no es necesariamente que sean especiales, lo que las destaca es que son de familias adineradas, no lo dicen, pero si se puede ver entre líneas, la prota nos cuenta que siempre traen ropa nueva, que tocan varios instrumentos y saben bailar balet (lo cual solo puede ser el resultado de tomar muchas clases particulares).
Las enseñanzas son muy importantes, pero agg ojalá los niños dejaran de pasar por eso.
Primero una anécdota:
Para esta navidad decidí regalar Novelas gráficas, a mi hija y mis 2 ahijadas. Este libro lo vi recomendado por todos lados. Así que lo compre para regalarlo.
Pero al leerlo me di cuenta de que la protagonista y su familia son cristianos (creo), inclusive hay una escena donde aparece Jesucristo. Personalmente no me afecta. Pero si están pensando regalárselo a alguien, asegúrense de que el tópico religioso no les vaya a molestar a otros.
Al final termine regresándolo y comprando otro.
Ahora sí, hablemos de Real Friends:
📚 SINOPSIS HONESTA:
Este es un libro sobre una de las cosas que mas odio en este mundo, un grupito de niñas “populares”, le hacen la vida imposible al resto de niñas en la primaria.
Es una historia muy entretenida, pero tiene algo que no me convenció.
Es un libro que me tuvo con un sentimiento de tristeza continua, inclusive en los momentos donde la protagonista trataba de ser valiente.
En especial me sentí muy mal, cuando describen a las 2 chicas mas populares, no es necesariamente que sean especiales, lo que las destaca es que son de familias adineradas, no lo dicen, pero si se puede ver entre líneas, la prota nos cuenta que siempre traen ropa nueva, que tocan varios instrumentos y saben bailar balet (lo cual solo puede ser el resultado de tomar muchas clases particulares).
Las enseñanzas son muy importantes, pero agg ojalá los niños dejaran de pasar por eso.
March 14, 2023
A realistic portrait of struggling with loneliness in childhood. It follows how the main character and the author "Shannon" was developing as a person through her failed trials to make friends.
I wasn't really attracted to that story. With the traditional formula of all graphic novels about friendship and coming of age (bullying, strict religious background, unloving siblings and snobby classmates), i could not find what makes it stand out as a different or unique story.
I wasn't really attracted to that story. With the traditional formula of all graphic novels about friendship and coming of age (bullying, strict religious background, unloving siblings and snobby classmates), i could not find what makes it stand out as a different or unique story.
June 27, 2017
Now I'm convinced that I need to read more graphic novels. Writing and art? Yes please.
Real Friends is a memoir of the author's younger life and her struggles with friendship, which made it extremely heartfelt. Lots of emotion went into this story -- props to the author for willing to be vulnerable. Quick, beautiful read. <3
Real Friends is a memoir of the author's younger life and her struggles with friendship, which made it extremely heartfelt. Lots of emotion went into this story -- props to the author for willing to be vulnerable. Quick, beautiful read. <3
March 2, 2021
Backstabbing. Broken Friendships. Fake Friends. Best Friends. Crying. Breaking. The middle child is always said to get the worst luck. That metaphor is seemingly coming true for Shannon Hale in elementary school. But soon the tornado is really coming.
December 27, 2017
This graphic novel SPEAKS to me. I think most people grow up with the struggles of making not just friends, but real friends who will stick with you no matter what. Shannon Hale digs deep into her own experiences of making friends from elementary school to middle school, all the nitty gritty and painful trauma of bullies and peer pressure to join a “popular” friend group. She’s honest and introspective about her past actions and worries, her retrospective commentary is perceptive but she keeps it in the background, she doesn’t belittle the children’s anxieties about making friends as childish looking back as an adult now. There’s so much heart in this story. It’s so full of simple but profound and indescribable emotions, like the hurt of being left out or ganged up against, and the relief and excitement of connecting with someone that can grow into friendship. The graphic novel format is perfect to convey these feelings. There are moments that make me cry and then some that make me laugh. Most of all it gave me a lot of hope in myself. I especially love the relationship between Shannon and her sister Wendy, I really wanna know more about Wendy and how their relationship grew after the years in this book. The author’s note is also a bonus that packs the final punch to all the emotions I felt reading the book.
The art by LeUyen (pronounced Le-Win) Pham is also beautiful. It captures the humour and imaginative turns in the story so vividly, keeping great pace with the narration over 5 years. What I love most is that the art really enhances the complex emotions of the story, even when it’s just visuals/images and no words going on. I can feel what Shannon is feeling even without commentary (in a perfect show, don’t tell way), and see what the adult Shannon now reflects on that little Shannon then did not notice.
This book is going to have a very personal place in my heart. I highly recommend it to everyone!
The art by LeUyen (pronounced Le-Win) Pham is also beautiful. It captures the humour and imaginative turns in the story so vividly, keeping great pace with the narration over 5 years. What I love most is that the art really enhances the complex emotions of the story, even when it’s just visuals/images and no words going on. I can feel what Shannon is feeling even without commentary (in a perfect show, don’t tell way), and see what the adult Shannon now reflects on that little Shannon then did not notice.
This book is going to have a very personal place in my heart. I highly recommend it to everyone!
September 22, 2019
4.5 stars.
Elementary school friendships and all the drama around them are still all deep in the recesses of my brain. They have become personal mythology, and even if I don't talk about them much as an adult, all the joy and the pain is still vivid. So reading REAL FRIENDS was almost like a therapy session, bringing a lot of things back to the surface, identifying a lot of emotions that were familiar.
It is amazing how complex Hale gets, the twisted strands of different friends, family and siblings, and her undiagnosed anxiety and OCD. The storytelling is incredibly efficient and smart, but still hits its emotional beats so hard.
I may not be able to give this book to my younger self, but I can give it to my kids. In my opinion this is a must-read for kids in upper elementary grades as they start to navigate the complexities of friendship drama and their own self-esteem.
Elementary school friendships and all the drama around them are still all deep in the recesses of my brain. They have become personal mythology, and even if I don't talk about them much as an adult, all the joy and the pain is still vivid. So reading REAL FRIENDS was almost like a therapy session, bringing a lot of things back to the surface, identifying a lot of emotions that were familiar.
It is amazing how complex Hale gets, the twisted strands of different friends, family and siblings, and her undiagnosed anxiety and OCD. The storytelling is incredibly efficient and smart, but still hits its emotional beats so hard.
I may not be able to give this book to my younger self, but I can give it to my kids. In my opinion this is a must-read for kids in upper elementary grades as they start to navigate the complexities of friendship drama and their own self-esteem.
February 11, 2021
More like a 3 for me personally because I am an adult and because I felt like this was a story I have read (and heard in real life) so many times before. BUT it was well executed and kids do need to keep having new* accounts of how it isn't just them being bullied or feeling like they don't fit in.
*(Because people don't keep and read old books, I guess?)
*(Because people don't keep and read old books, I guess?)
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