Book Review
A short overview of this book
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham is a book for tweens that talks about how hard it can be to find the right friends, and why it is worth it.
An illustrated comic-style book that looks at the ups and downs of friendships for girls. A book that you could read together with your daughter and talk about how she manages friendships at school. There are many possible conversations to be had with this book, and friendship issues with girls are starting much earlier than ever before.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, the go-to channel for all things related to sex education for parents. Today, I want to share my thoughts on a book called Real Friends. Now, I have these amazing librarians who always get me the books I request, and this one caught my attention.
Real Friends is a comic-style book that’s packed with lots of pictures. I gave it to my twelve-year-old daughter and asked her to give it a read. Her initial response was, Meh, it’s pretty lame. But let me tell you, I actually quite enjoyed it!
The story revolves around two girls who, in today’s terms, might be diagnosed with mild autism or Asperger’s. They have their own unique way of communicating, which makes their friendship a bit challenging at times. As a parent, what I appreciated about this book is that it reminded me that kids can have different experiences when it comes to making friends.
Real Friends also sheds light on the games and dynamics that girls encounter in school, starting as young as six or seven years old. Now, I must admit, some parts didn’t quite resonate with me. For instance, a six-year-old having a boy hug and kiss her, well, that’s not really age-appropriate. So, there were a few inaccuracies here and there.
But here’s the thing: this book is more about the story it tells. My daughter and I both felt that the beginning was a bit off, with a six-year-old discussing things that seemed out of place. However, once we got past that, the story unfolded beautifully. As a parent, I find it valuable because it normalizes certain aspects of friendship.
Now, let me be clear, it doesn’t normalize bullying, but it does touch on the topic. Reading this book could help your child realize that they’re not alone in facing friendship challenges and that there are different ways to handle them. It can spark some really good conversations between you and your child.
I haven’t checked out the reviews for this book yet, but I do know that it was a New York Times bestseller. So, there’s probably a ton of well-informed opinions out there. But as a parent, what I love about Real Friends is that it tackles a topic that’s often considered taboo.
I hope this review helps you make an informed decision. Cheers!
