Real Friends - by Shannon Hale (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Fresh and funny." --New York Times Book Review

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 is an honest and relatable true story about the ups and downs of friendship. It's a great conversation starter for talking about feeling left out, big emotions, and finding your people. It's also uplifting and funny, making this the perfect graphic novel for readers who love the Click series by Kayla Miller, the Nat Enough series by Maria Scrivan, and books by Raina Telgemeier.

Review Quotes

"In Real Friends, Shannon Hale reflects on her own friendship-troubled elementary school years with honesty, humor and grace . . . Her readers will find much to love here, including LeUyen Pham's brilliant and multilayered art . . . These detailed memories of elementary school will ring hilariously true to adult readers . . . At the same time, stories of whispered rumors and being left out will be achingly familiar for readers navigating those waters in the here and now." --author Kate Messner, writing in the New York Times Book Review

"The book's truth is as vibrant as its art." --Washington Post

"A heart-stabbing tale of the everyday social agonies of girlhood." --Wall Street Journal

"Real Friends tackles bullying, childhood anxiety, and growing pains in a heartfelt way that'll transport every woman who went to elementary school back into her days as a young girl . . . but the book also shows us the incredible kindness and solidarity that girls can and do display." --The Mary Sue

"A wistful, affecting, and utterly charming exploration of the realities of childhood friendship." --Booklist, starred review

"This tender, perceptive graphic memoir is bound to resonate with most readers, especially fans of Raina Telgemeier and kids struggling with the often turbulent waters of friendships and cliques." --School Library Journal, starred review

"A wonderfully observed portrait of finding one's place in your world." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Readers will appreciate Shannon's fantastic imagination that lightens her tough journey toward courage and self-acceptance." --Kirkus Reviews

"Hand this book to fans of Raina Telgemeier's and Cece Bell's graphic memoirs." --Horn Book

"The author's memoir nails what it's like to navigate elementary-school friendships." --Parents Magazine

"Pham's visual version of Hale expresses everything, with bright creativity and intense emotional suffering warring across her face, her body posture, and even in her gait. Hale fans will appreciate the look behind the curtain at where some of her amazing book ideas are rooted, and kids who have struggled with the complexity of grade school friendships, i.e., any kid, will find comfort that the dark days can be survived." --The Bulletin

"Real Friends is honest and heartfelt, and sure to be loved by anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. The artwork is stunning, too!" --Victoria Jamieson, New York Times-bestselling and Newbery Honor author of Roller Girl

"Fresh, fun, and achingly real. Bravo!" --Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times-bestselling and Newbery Honor author and co-creator of Sunny Side Up and the Babymouse series

"Real Friends made me laugh, broke my heart, and gave me hope. This book is SO GOOD. SO MANY FEELS." --Gene Luen Yang, New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award Finalist author of American Born Chinese

About the Author

Shannon Hale is the bestselling author of many books for children, including the Ever After High series, Princess Academy (Newbery Honor book), and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl middle grade novel. She co-wrote the graphic novels Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack and the chapter book series The Princess in Black with her husband Dean Hale. They live with their four children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

LeUyen Pham has illustrated more than one hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Honor book Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris and the bestselling Princess in Black series by Shannon and Dean Hale. She is the co-creator, along with Shannon Hale, of the bestselling graphic memoirs Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever. Her own books include The Bear Who Wasn't There and Big Sister, Little Sister. A graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, LeUyen lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.