Friends Forever (Friends, 3)

About the Author
Shannon Hale is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty books, including fantasy novels The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days, science fiction novel Dangerous, Newbery Honor winner Princess Academy, graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends (with LeUyen Pham), and romantic comedy Austenland (now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell). She lives in Utah with her husband and frequent collaborator Dean Hale, their four remarkable children, and two ridiculous cats named Misty Knight and Mike Hat.
LeUyen Pham worked in animation before turning to children’s books. She wrote and illustrated Big Sister, Little Sister and The Bear Who Wasn't There, and is the illustrator of numerous other picture books. Ms. Pham lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband.
Following up their mega-bestselling Real Friends and Best Friends graphic memoirs, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham are back with Friends Forever, a story about learning to love yourself exactly as you are.
Shannon is in eighth grade, and life is more complicated than ever. Everything keeps changing, her classmates are starting to date each other (but nobody wants to date her!), and no matter how hard she tries, Shannon can never seem to just be happy.
As she works through her insecurities and undiagnosed depression, she worries about disappointing all the people who care about her. Is something wrong with her? Can she be the person everyone expects her to be? And who does she actually want to be?
With their signature humor, warmth, and insight, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham have crafted another incredible love letter to their younger selves and to readers everywhere, a reminder to us all that we are enough.
From School Library Journal
Gr 6–9—In Hale's third graphic memoir, set in 1987, when the author was in eighth grade, things are looking up for Shannon—she has more friends, new interests, and even contact lenses—but she still struggles with self-doubt and intrusive thoughts of worthlessness. As Shannon matures, so do the problems she confronts. Friendships and family are complicated, and pressure mounts as she faces body image issues, relationships with boys, worries over her future career potential, and an unwanted sexual advance from a shopping mall Santa. Once again, Hale's storytelling and Pham's art get straight to the heart of adolescent pain and joy. Expressive use of color and line contrasts Shannon's sometimes stark realities with her idealized daydreams, and her journey toward self-actualization is cleverly framed through magazine cover illustrations featuring aspirational yet anxiety-inducing headlines. Like its predecessors, this volume offers an achingly authentic depiction of growing up with mental health struggles, and readers will cheer Shannon's eventual move toward self-acceptance as she is sustained by her creative storytelling abilities. The resolution is affirming and hopeful, indicating that although life has its ups and downs, Shannon is going to be OK— and an extensive author's note from Hale emphasizes that nobody should weather mental illness alone. VERDICT Reading this book is like getting a hug from a friend who knows exactly what you're going through. An outstanding follow-up to the first two volumes, and a must for graphic novel collections.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA