From School Library Journal
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Gr 6–9—When Truly is invited to the popular table by her
former best friend, Natasha, she is excited to finally get a
chance at the "in" crowd. Unsure if she is really accepted by
them, she worries about doing and saying the wrong thing. Popular
Natasha is torn between being a good friend to Truly and being
jealous of the attention that she gets. Meanwhile, Hazel, Truly's
current best friend, who is decidedly unpopular and
anti-popularity, is hurt and angry at being abandoned by her
friend. She seeks revenge by hacking into all of Truly's online
accounts. The addition of social media amplifies each snub,
misunderstanding, and deliberate meanness. Although the
characters' interactions may, at first glance seem melodramatic,
it is a realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is
depicted as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social
climber, while Natasha's mean streak is the obvious product of
questionable parenting. The other characters are
multidimensional; they have struggles and worries, and are not
the flat, stereotypical popular kids that are sometimes portrayed
YA novels. As these young people navigate the already awkward
world of middle school, the fact that accusations, rumors, and
lies are made public for the world to see make adolescent
mistakes much more grave. A solid choice that will ignite
meaningful discussion.—Patricia Feriano, Our Lady of Mercy
School, Potomac, MD
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Review
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Praise for Unfriended:
"Hearkens back to Vail’s wonderful The Friendship Ring series in
its rtunity to see how various characters delight, suffer,
and rationalize, complicating the portrayals. . . Clear and
compelling. . . This will be an irresistible starter to a
discussion of ethics and values, and readers will appreciate both
the cautionary tale and the message of survival’s possibility."
—BCCB, starred review
"With keen in, Vail reveals the internal struggles with
uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless
of popularity status. . . With a resolution that is both
realistic and hopeful, Vail captures the complexity of middle
school social challenges, infully addressing the issues of
friendships and integrity." —Publishers Weekly
"Vail has a great ear for dialogue, and her characters. . . are
well differentiated and realistic." —VOYA
"A realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is depicted
as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social climber. . .
[and] the other characters are multidimensional; they have
struggles and worries, and are not the flat, stereotypical
popular kids that are sometimes portrayed in YA novels. . . A
solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion." —School
Library Journal
"Vail brings her sharp observations and wry humor to the world of
eighth-grade friendships." —Horn Book
"Mean girls, misunderstood girls, awkward boys, friendship,
popularity, social misfits, all play into this book that
epitomizes the roller coaster that is middle school." —LMC
Praise for Rachel Vail:
"Wonder is wonderful! It's got energy, humor and heart." —Judy
Blume, for Wonder
“The writing is sharp, unpredictably clever” —Avi, Newbery
Medalist, for Justin Case: School, Drool, and other Daily
Disasters
“Vail again demonstrates a penetrating in into the concerns
of young teen girls … Readers will absorb this in one fell
swoop.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Lucky
“Vail proves that first love is anything but simple and sweet.
Her razor-sharp wit will keep readers turning pages.” —Publishers
Weekly, for If We Kiss
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