Name: Always, Abigail
ISBN: 9781402293030

Nancy J. Cavanaugh

A fresh spin on the epistolary novel, this story of friendship, self-discovery and standing up to bullying is told through Abigail's letters, notes and lists.

Always, Abigail

Jessica Franklin

Always, Abigail follows a young girl who is ready to start sixth grade along with her best friends Alli and Cami, until Abigail gets assigned to a different homeroom than them. Now she has to sit and listen to her two friends share inside jokes that she doesn't understand, hear them talk about two new girls in their homeroom with who they are becoming friends, and listen to them gush about how great of a homeroom teacher they have. Abigail also gets stuck with the worst teacher and the "Friendly Letter Assignment," where she has to write letters to Gabby, the school's biggest outcast. Sixth grade looks like it's going to be harder than she thought. That is until Abigail realizes that Gabby is actually really nice and fun, and her so-called best friends ditch her as soon as they make the Pom Squad, and she doesn't. 

Through the "Friendly Letter Assignment," Abigail realizes that Gabby isn't as strange as people say. She is actually very kind and thoughtful. Abigail also learns that Gabby's home life isn't what the rumors say, either. Her father is in prison, and her brother had to drop out of school to care for her. But Gabby continues to keep her head up and sticks up for those around her, which Abigail learns how to do by the end of the book. Abigail learns there is more to someone than what you first may think. We see her evolve throughout the year while learning the ropes of middle school. Although she slips up from time to time, it makes this story even more relatable. Middle school is a hard time for everyone, and understanding that it is okay to stand out a little is a good lesson for children in this stage of life. 

I enjoyed this book and thought it sent a great message. I remember being in middle school and just wanting to fit in with everyone else, even if that means not being friends with certain people because of rumors. However, like Abigail, I realized that it is okay to go against the grain and follow your instincts. Understanding that friends shouldn't make other friends feel bad is a powerful lesson to learn at the stage and hold onto for later years. Overall, I liked Abigail's portrayal as I felt she was a very relatable young girl trying to find her path through sixth grade.

Always, Abigail

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