Booklist Reviews

*Starred Review* Following right on the heels of her graphic memoir Real Friends (2017), Hale continues the story of her struggles to find friends in elementary school. Now in sixth grade and finally at the top of the social heap, Shannon starts out the year fully ensconced in the in-crowd. Queen Bee Jen is her locker mate; the girl who spread lies about her the year before is leaving her alone; and she finally feels like she has a group of real friends. At least, at first. Before long, Shannon starts noticing that the games and activities she likes most—writing, playing make-believe—aren't as fun for her friends, who are starting to go with boys and only talk about TV shows and pop music, none of which she can keep up with. Meanwhile, Shannon's issues with anxiety, which began appearing in Real Friends, become even harder to ignore, and Pham's depiction of her intrusive thoughts—a black, fuzzy cloud with jittery, scratchy white writing, in sharp contrast to her warm, full-color figures elsewhere—really drives home how jarring those thoughts can be. In addition to thoughtfully depicting the rocky, ephemeral nature of childhood friendships, Hale doesn't shy away from her own childhood complicity in bullying and the ways her desires to fit in made her doubt her judgment about herself and others. This uncommonly honest portrayal of the lures and pitfalls of popularity will likely ring true to many elementary and middle-school readers. Grades 3-6. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

In this follow-up to her graphic memoir Real Friends, Hale covers the ups and downs of her sixth-grade year in 1980s Salt Lake City: maintaining her place in the popular group, determining whether she ‘likes' or ‘like likes' a boy, figuring out what her so-called friends think she's too old to do. She also begins to explore her burgeoning hope of becoming a writer. Pham's panel illustrations deftly convey the intensity of emotions and delineate between Shannon's lush, dreamy, imaginative world and her sometimes-stark real one. Copyright 2021 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

In this follow-up to her graphic memoir Real Friends (rev. 5/17), Hale straps in to the roller coaster rides, both real and metaphorical, of her sixth-grade year in 1980s Salt Lake City: maintaining her place in "The Group" of popular girls, navigating how much she should "like" or "like like" a boy, figuring out what she's suddenly become too old to do-at least according to her so-called friends. Young Shannon also begins to explore her burgeoning hope of becoming a writer, challenging the societal message that "the most important thing for a girl is to grow up and get married." Hale offers a frank look at the callous and cliquish tendencies of her social circle as well as her struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Pham's panel illustrations deftly convey the intensity and depth of the characters' emotions and delineate between Shannon's lush, dreamy, imaginative world and the sometimes stark space of the real one. A natural suggestion for fans of Cece Bell and Raina Telgemeier, this book offers an honest, empathetic, and encouraging narrative for young readers braving the ups and downs of the tween years. Grace McKinney November/December 2019 p.111 Copyright 2019 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 4–7—Hale follows up her poignant graphic memoir Real Friends, which depicted the twists and turns of elementary school relationships. This time the author looks back on sixth grade. In 1985, Shannon and her friends were the oldest students and anticipated being queens of the school. They belonged to "The Group," a crew of new and old friends who were cute and popular but whose rules of behavior were capricious and confusing, often leaving Shannon anxious and struggling to make sense of it all and fit in. With each page turn, every character becomes ever more believable and complex, and the situations they experience ring true. The artwork is appealing and animated, with backgrounds that darken and become shadowy when Shannon is feeling isolated and sad. Panels move the action along with crisp lines, fun 1980s references, and well-placed, expressive speech balloons. The frequent fantasy sequences are beautifully color saturated, with lovely, hazy shapes that let readers' imaginations soar right along with Shannon's. An author's note speaks honestly and compassionately about anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. VERDICT A terrific look at middle school culture, and a compelling sequel to a fabulous middle grade graphic memoir. This authentic, important book will mean a great deal to many kids and empower those who are happier following their own inclinations than in going along with the group.—Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal.