Name: Sarah Sammis's review of Real Friends by Shannon Hale
Item: Real Friends
Rating: 5
Author: Sarah Sammis

Shannon Hale

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?

Real Friends

Cindy Sharp

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? 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.

Sarah Sammis

Real Friends by Shannon Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham is a graphic novel memoir of the author's elementary school years. The book is divided up into friendships with the name of the main person Shannon was friends with at the time — or the person who seemed to be in control of the social dynamics of her grade or class. 

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Shannon has trouble making friends until she meets Adrienne, who Shannon believes will be her friend forever, but that isn't to be the case when Adrienne's family suddenly moves away. Now she doesn't know what she will do for friends especially since everyone she knows is a part of "The Group," the name for the most popular girls in school.

Real Friends is a graphic novel about making friends and how to deal with being bullied. Shannon is mostly likable, but occasionally becomes annoying when she whines and cries about things. Other characters in the story either become part of "The Group" is almost a character in the story because so much of what is happening is related in some way. Overall, Real Friends is a cute novel that includes several topics of interest to its target audience.

Lynn Braden

Shannon has trouble making friends until she meets Adrienne, who Shannon believes will be her friend forever, but that isn't to be the case when Adrienne's family suddenly moves away. Now she doesn't know what she will do for friends especially since everyone she knows is a part of "The Group," the name for the most popular girls in school.

Real Friends is a graphic novel about making friends and how to deal with being bullied. Shannon is mostly likable, but occasionally becomes annoying when she whines and cries about things. Other characters in the story either become part of "The Group" is almost a character in the story because so much of what is happening is related in some way. Overall, Real Friends is a cute novel that includes several topics of interest to its target audience.

Maggie Gordon

Real Friends is a memoir, something I didn't expect from a book aimed at younger readers. It covers the life of Shannon Hale from the start of school to 5th grade, and speaks to many of the issues that this crowd has. In specific, Real Friends is about dealing with cliques and bullies. Little Shannon struggled to make friends, and once she found a group, she was constantly challenged to prove her worth so that she didn't get kicked out again. She had a hard time dealing with her older sister and her home life was often as unstable as her friend relationships as a result. These issues are portrayed realistically and will be quite relatable by many readers. Combined with cute artwork, this will probably be a popular and useful read for kids in elementary/middle school. 

There is one major issue with this book and that is that it does not solve any of Shannon's problems. Some get better, but many are just left hanging (like Shannon's probable OCD diagnosis). This is the problem of memoir. You can't really write in an ending that doesn't exist, but Real Friends ends up concluding at a point that feels almost random. Things are on the upswing, but there are so many unanswered questions that it does not feel satisfying when you finish the book.

Caroline Lewicki

I appreciated the book’s message of being kind and accepting, not letting bullies get you down, etc.; however, there was a religious tone that I didn’t enjoy and I felt like the book didn’t really need it. Shannon was exactly bolstered by her religion nor did it make her feel better when her “friends” hurt her. I didn’t think it added anything to the story.

Story Eater

Hale gives a stellar book for young fans of graphic novels to have a safe place for an imaginative, thoughtful, and encouraging story. I found it entirely motivational for kids in rough spots with crowds of manipulative, conniving children around them who desperately want friends but can't seem to find any that lift them up instead of tear them down. 

As for the art of the book, it's not too busy to take away from the story. It is entirely complementary. I'm glad I actually could check a book out from the library and give it to my reader with all confidence in its value as a story. Very well done.

Yoomi

It's hard to imagine Shannon Hale being anything but the amazing author and creator of books like The Princess in Black. But that's why books like this are so important for kids. It's a story about how she felt growing up, about what it was like to have a best friend and then lose her, about being just a little bit different and bullied because of it. I think this can open up some important conversations and will speak to any kid who has ever felt alone. Especially now, when children see adults bullying, we have to talk about why this is wrong. (I never did like the sticks and stones saying. If anything, I think words can do just as much damage.) I know memories can be unreliable and Shannon admits this in her author's note at the end of the book, but I could relate to her younger self and it brought back a lot of painful memories of grade school, junior high, and for me, even high school. But she has a hopeful message at the end. Make sure your kids read it.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jolie

Real Friends is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a girl who is trying to find her place at school and at home. Dealing with subjects like bullying, anxiety, and OCD, Real Friends is a must read for any child or parent who is going through something similar.

I think that this should be a book that every parent should have their children between 2nd and 5th grade read. Shannon could be any child, in any school with these very real problems and I think it would do a child good to read a graphic novel where the character is going through the same things as they are. That way they can see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that one day, those that were picking on them eventually end up in their shoes.

Shannon did come across as someone who would do anything to stay in “The Group”. Anything and when I was reading those chapters where she was doing that, I wanted to cry for her. She was trying to so hard and they just treated her like she was invisible. But as she got older and more mature, she slowly began to realize that it wasn’t her. I think that when she broke up with “The Group” and started making friends with the older kids in her grade (she was in a 5th grade/6th-grade split class), that she realized her worth.

Adrienne and Jen annoyed the ever-living out of me. Adrienne for not being a true friend to Shannon. She allowed those girls, well mainly Jen, to bully Shannon, spread lies about her and just make Shannon’s life miserable. What really got me annoyed with her was when she allowed her brother to scream at Shannon and then agreed with some of what he said.

And don’t get me started on Jen. What a miserable, unhappy girl. She found an easy victim in Shannon and took every opportunity to let her know how unpopular she was or how lucky she was being allowed to hang out with them. I will say that I agreed with Shannon’s decision at the end of the book. I know the author had some reserves about writing that part of the story the way she wrote it and I will say….I agreed with the way it was written.

The drama at home was pretty hard to read too. Shannon’s sister, Wendy, was portrayed as a bear for most of the book and she was so mean to her. I was a little shocked that there was physical violence shown. That being Wendy smacking Shannon around and I started to get angry at Wendy. But, the more the story went on, the more that the author let little things slip about Wendy. About her struggles with bullies and making friends at school. Which made me understand why she acted the way she acted.

The end of the book was very well written and I loved the afterward that the author wrote.

How many stars will I give Real Friends: 4

Why: I enjoyed reading this book and thought that the message that was included in it was one that every child should read. This was the 2nd graphic novel that I have read and I really liked it. The illustrations were fantastic!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Child

Why: This is a middle-grade book, written for children between 8-12. There is some slight violence in the book but it is going with the storyline about bullying and drama at home.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

This was so funny and nice and beautiful. Such a cute story, and such a close representation of my own childhood too! (Except replace middle child with youngest child.)

Cindy Sharp &
Real Friends by Shannon Hale

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