Prefer reading fiction. Here are a few books for you to try.
Each deals with a different type of friendship. From staying friends, to making friends, to understanding what a friend really is; these books will help you to identity and navigate the different friendships you might have in middle school.
Operation Do-Over (2022)
By Gordon Korman
Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Humour
Themes: Friendship, Communication, Crushes/Dating, Possessive/Exclusionary relationships, Self-Reflection
Format: Print or Audiobook
Mason and Ty were once best friends. They did everything together, just the two of them… that is until new girl Ava arrived in seventh grade and changed everything. After an accident, Mason finds himself transported back in time before Ava arrived. Through his antics in the past Mason learns to step outside his comfort zone, try new things, make new friends, learn who he is beyond his friendship with Ty and most importantly believe in himself. While he learns that you can’t always stop things from happening, you can change how you treat others and how they treat you.
Bibliographic details:
Korman, G. (2022). Operation Do-Over [Print]. HarperCollins.
Korman, G. (2022). Operation Do-Over. (J. McNatt, Narr.) [Audiobook]. HarperAudio. (Original work published 2021).
A Glasshouse of Stars (2021)
By Shirley Marr
Genre: Magical Realism, Australian Fiction
Themes: Family, Loss, Racism, Xenophobia, Fake vs Real Friendships, Belonging, Acceptance
Format: Print or Audiobook
Moving to a new school is scary enough, but imagine having to move to a whole new country. For Meixing this is her new reality with the hope of a better future. But everything is different, she struggles to learn the New Language, fit in, and make friends and then an unimaginable tragedy occurs. Her only comfort is in her magical backyard glasshouse. She is joined by two other outsiders, Kevin and Joseph, who also find refuge in the glasshouse and are able to connect with one another despite their differences. Through their friendship, they learn to believe in one another and gain the confidence to speak up for each other.
Bibliographic details:
Marr, S. (2021). A Glasshouse of Stars. [Print]. Penguin Random House.
Marr, S. (2021). A Glasshouse of Stars. (J. Nguyen, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Penguin Random House Australia Audio. (Original work published 2021).
Jennifer Chan is Not Alone (2022)
By Tae Keller
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
Themes: Cliques, Peer pressure, Bullying, Friendship, Gossip, Belonging, Acceptance
Format: Print
A book written for everyone who’s ever been bullied or made to question who they are. Mallory used to think she understood how the world worked and her place in it, but when new girl Jennifer moves across the street, she starts to question everything. Mal is torn between being the person she wants to be and the person her friends, Tess and Reagan, want her to be. Forced to choose she makes a terrible mistake and now Jennifer is missing. Keller asks you to think about how you see others, how others see you, how you see yourself, what makes a friend, and what makes a bully?
Bibliographic Details:
Keller, T. (2022). Jennifer Chan is Not Alone [Print]. Random House Children’s Books.
Image Sources:
MBD, D. (2022). Jennifer Chan is Not Alone [Cover Illustration]. In T. Keller, Jennifer Chan is Not Alone (Book Cover). Random House Children’s Books. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638817487i/53129487.jpg
Korman, G. (2022). Operation Do-Over [Cover Illustration]. In G. Korman, Operation Do-Over (Book Cover). Baler + Bray. https://gordonkorman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/OperationDoOver-hc-c-199×300.jpg
Li, C., & Linn, L. (2021). A Glasshouse of Stars [Cover Illustration & Design]. in S. Marr, A Glasshouse of Stars (Book Cover). Penguin Random House Australia. https://www.shirleymarr.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/A-Glasshouse-of-Stars-US-cover-202×300.jpg
