Always Anthony - (Emmie & Friends) by Terri Libenson

Book Synopsis

The eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series, told from the alternating POVs of popular Anthony and timid Leah as they grapple with a bullying incident at school.

Friends. Bullies.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Anthony is TPFW (Too Popular For Words), loves science, hates writing.

Leah is a super-shy nerd who's finally making friends of her own.

What could they have in common?

A lot more than they thought, as it turns out!

But then one day they witness Anthony's teammates bullying a sixth grader. What happens next could cement their new friendship--or blow it up forever.

New York Times bestseller Terri Libenson is back with a story about unexpected friendship and everyday bravery.

Review Quotes

PRAISE FOR BECOMING BRIANNA: "Lacing the dialogue with spirited banter and laying on the life lessons with a light touch... All ends with party time . . . plus a climactic hora exuberant enough to leave everyone, readers included, smiling." -- ALA Booklist

"Readers will relate to Brianna's attempts to manage her stress load as well as her insecurity and flaws as she works to form and maintain friendships." -- School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR JUST JAIME: "A delightful tale that navigates the precarious ebb and flow of friendship dynamics." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Libenson perfectly portrays the gaslighting and passive aggression that can be the hallmarks of middle-school relationships turned sour, and readers struggling with cracking of beloved friendships will find reassurance in the book's 'this too shall pass' sentiment." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

PRAISE FOR POSITIVELY IZZY: "Libenson captures middle-school dramas--family, friendships, crushes, stereotypes, grades, self-discovery--with candor, fast pacing, and authentic, relatable characters. Positively satisfying." -- The Horn Book

"Libenson nicely touches on classic middle-grade tropes, such as shifting friendships, crushes, and developing confidence. A poignant twist ending adds a heartening note to an already charming story." -- ALA Booklist

PRAISE FOR INVISIBLE EMMIE: "This is middle grade fiction at its best. A fantastic debut novel with plenty of laughs and tons of heart. INVISIBLE EMMIE is unforgettable!" -- -- Lincoln Peirce, New York Times-bestselling creator of Big Nate

"Clever, funny work by a great cartoonist. Reading INVISIBLE EMMIE sums up middle school: You laugh, you cry, you get beaned in the head with a volleyball." -- -- Stephanie Perkins, internationally bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door