Issue Five - Friendship

Have you ever wondered what it is that binds two people together in friendship? Is it shared experiences like The Lonely Hearts Club?  A mutual goal like Ivy's Ever After?  Common interests? Secrets?  Complete trust? 

Truly, this is a matter of opinion.  It can be all or any of these things. In this issue, WRN? explores the nature of friendships and how they can be found anywhere—at school, a hotel, or living right next door to you.  Apart from the best-buds-since we-were-two traditional friends, companionship can be pure fantasy:  a giraffe and a turtle, a boy and a tree, a girl and a dragon.  Keep reading and we promise you’ll find all this and more!   

Every month the WRN? girls--Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Michelle Delisle and Jill MacKenzi--get together to discuss a favorite book. It's cool to see how different our opinions and interpretations are! And...this month—Wow!—we’re double excited to graced by the presence of our first ever guest chatter, literary agent, Joanna Volpe. And, she happens to be the super-agent of WRN? girl, Kerry. Woot! Welcome to the WRN? chat room Jo.

The four of us discussed a great book—Elizabeth Eulberg’s debut novel The Lonely Hearts Club, a fabulous read about high-schooler Penny Lane—named after the famous Beatles song—who’s heartbroken when her lifelong friend recently turned beau, cheats on her. So she vows…NO MORE BOYS. Penny starts the Lonely Hearts Club and is surprised when membership goes wild. Only problem is, as the girls in the club band together to help each other in school, friendships, sports and life in general, Penny is slowly falling for her ex-BFF’s (now friend again) ex-boyfriend, Ryan. This book rocks with girl power!

Kerry: tonight we’re chatting about THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. Super-agent Joanna, so glad you could join us :) So, whaddya guys think of the book?
JoSVolpe: this came across as hi-concept commercial
Jill: I think I was so overpowered by the concept (kinda like Twilight, I guess)
JoSVolpe: See?
michelle: it did read very fast
JoSVolpe: exactly
Jill: yep
Kerry: yeah
Jill: I actually REALLY liked it
Jill: surprisingly...not usually my kind of thing, right?
michelle: me too
michelle: it's not really your thing, Jill
Jill: I know. But I was SO DOWN with it all! Girl power! :)
michelle: Grrrrlllll Power!

Dannette Haworth

By Michelle Delisle

Danette Haworth is the author of two middle grade books, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning and the just released, The Summer of Moonlight Secrets.  Her new novel is set is Central Florida at a famous antebellum hotel, the Meriwether, during one magical summer when three kids and a mysterious stranger happen upon each other and discover the true meaning of friendship.

Hiya Danette!  Thanks for stopping by to talk to us and all the WRNers about both of your books.  O.K., we’ll go ahead and start with—

Whatcha’ reading now?

I’m rereading The Woods, by adult mystery/suspense author Harlan Coben. I recently discovered his books, and—oh, my gosh—he’ll keep you up past your bedtime!

I also just finished Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love by Lauren Tarshis. This novel cracked me up! I love Emma-Jean’s Spocklike qualities. Something that really appealed to me in this follow-up to the first book (Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree) was the development of Colleen, Emma-Jean’s best friend. Though Colleen was featured in the first book, I felt she was somehow more prominent in this story, and I really liked her narrative. She registered the hurts and insults typical for her age group, but she tried very hard to always believe in the best.

Lockdown - by Walter Dean Myers

Reviewed by Kerry O’Malley Cerra

Fourteen-year-old Reese is sent to Progress—a juvie hall—when he’s busted for selling prescription pads to a neighborhood dealer. With two years already served, Reese struggles to keep his record clean to be eligible for early release. After all, his younger sister Icy needs him at home. But staying out of trouble is hard when his fellow inmate and friend, Toon, is the target of a well-planned gang initiation. If Reese decides to defend him, Icy will be without him even longer. Couple this with the constant verbal beatings of the Progress Staff and it seems that Reese will soon be heading to an “upstate facility” rather than home.

Added to that pressure is the fact that Reese has an important job to do—make Progress look good as they test out a new work-release program. Reese is sent to Evergreen Nursing home a few days a week where he’s assigned to cleaning duties along with caring for Mr. Hooft, an lonely, elderly man who constantly accuses Reese of being a murderer and a thief. Over time, their bond deepens and in Mr. Hooft, Reese finds the answers he’s been looking for. And an unlikely, yet life-changing friendship.

Armed with the knowledge that there's no one right answer in life to set you on the path to freedom, all Reese can do is his best. But is it enough to break the cycle of crime that surrounds him?

With Lockdown, Walter Dean Myers has created a story that will keep you flipping page after page as you discover just how sad and corrupt our juvie system is, all the while, rooting for Reese to find his way out. Truly, this book is a must-read.

Ivy’s Ever After - by Dawn Lairamore

Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

Princess Ivy isn’t your typical princess.  She never wanted to learn to play the harp or embroider tapestries.  Why, there were times she was positively unladylike! 

In another time or place this might have worked in Ivy’s favor, but the Kingdom of Arendale never produces any male heirs, so the Princess Ivy is key in attracting the next king. According to tradition, she will be imprisoned in a tower on her fourteenth birthday and guarded from escape by a ferocious dragon.  Many princes will travel to Arendale (which is unusual because the kingdom itself is no great shake) enticed by the sport of dragon slaying.  The first to be successful in slaying the dragon will win the princess’s hand in marriage, the dragon’s treasure and the throne.

Well.  This isn’t really Ivy’s idea of a good time, but she loves her father and understands how important this is to the future of the Arendale.  Still, when she meets Eldrige, the timid and somewhat small dragon who will guard her, she wonders if they might have other options.  This non-conformist duo become unlikely friends united to see if they can change Arendale’s centuries-old tradition and take on an adventure that includes trolls, truly ferocious dragons and, of course, Ivy’s fairy godmother. 

The way Ivy's Ever After is told is as untraditional as the characters.  Readers will be lulled by a gentle authentic fairy tale rhythm, only to be hit with a funny contemporary phrase or dialogue.  Debut author Dawn Lairamore has written a fun, fresh fairytale themed around friendship rather than capturing the heart of Prince Charming.

Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels - by Jamie Michalak

Reviewed by Kerry O’Malley Cerra

Joe and Sparky are unlikely friends. Not only is Joe a giraffe while Sparky is a turtle, but Joe loves to stretch his neck and see the world while Sparky likes to hibernate in his shell on a warm rock. When Joe sees a shiny yellow convertible sports car pull up at the zoo gate, he’s convinced it’s his prize from a contest he entered. With a little nudging, Joe riles up Sparky and together they zoom off for a day of wild adventures.

Their differences are vast but their friendship is as tight as the glue that holds the fruit on Joe’s new hat. As they explore a store downtown, a drive-thru restaurant where they order flies but receive fries, a car wash and more, the reader will fall in love with this quirky duo. And by the end, I bet you’ll be begging for a pet giraffe.

With Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels, Jamie Michalak has created a timeless book about friendship with just enough laughs to keep kids begging to read it over and over again. Frank Remkiewics’s illustrations are bright and fun, allowing us to feel as if we’re there with Joe and Sparky on that perfect blue-skied day.

Friendship…well there are just so many kinds. There are friends that are fun to hang with, others that are great for sharing secrets with. Some are adventurous, some will help you with your homework, and some will have your back no matter what. If you’re really, really lucky, you may have one friend who is all of these things wrapped together. This month, we’re all about books with friendship themes and lucky for you, we have tons of them to giveaway.

If you want a chance to win one, post the answer to the following question on our Facebook wall, or send an email to contests@whatchareadingnow.com.

What quality is most important to you in a friend?

We can’t wait to read your answers!

by Faran Fagan

Friends. They make us laugh, warm our hearts, make us happy when we’re feeling sad, push us to be our best, and also betray us and break our hearts.  The beautiful thing about friendship in literature is not just that it covers so much about human emotion, but that everyone can relate because we’ve pretty much all had one really close friend no matter what age we are.

My favorite book about friendship has to be The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Even though it's not two people – rather a boy and a tree – this children’s book illustrates what it’s like to have a true friendship. The tree is so devoted to the boy that the tree gives up apples, branches, and eventually, a tree trunk. And in the end, the tree offers up all that's left, an old stump for the boy -- now an old man -- to sit on.

The selfless acts of the tree, for me, is what makes this book so special -- because friendship in its purest form is about sacrificing for someone else. I think the tree is the friend we all wish we had – someone to always be there for you and give you what you need.

There are a lot of sub-themes in this book, and you may have gotten something else special for you in your reading. I have heard a lot of people tell me that the tree reminds them of their mom, who for some is their best friend as well as their mother. The multiple meanings that exist in The Giving Tree are the perfect example of how friendship can evoke so many emotions and thoughts in literature at all levels.

 

Here are what some of my students thought about some of the books they read about friendship:

 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The novel Of Mice and Men opened my eyes to the truth behind friendship. Though friends claim to be honest with each other, in many cases, being honest isn’t the most helpful or appropriate decision. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck highlights the difference between being honest and doing what’s best for your friend. This is very relevant to relationships in modern day, even though the novel was published in 1937. The novel suggests that we all have an idealized version of friendship; we think of ourselves as the ideal friend, while, in realty, we all have flaws. This novel challenged me to find the errors in my friendships, allowing me to build better relationships.

-- Kristen Suarez, junior Pembroke Pines Charter High School

 

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

In the novel, Someone Like You, by Sarah Dessen , two girls, Halley and Scarlett have been best friends for forever.  Halley is the quieter one, always on the sideline; while Scarlett is popular and outgoing. In their relationship, Halley always leans on rock hard Scarlett for support with her insecurities and family problems. But after Scarlett’s boyfriend is killed, and the news that she is carrying his baby; Scarlett needs to now lean on Halley. Even though they wobble at first, the girls make it through all the troubles together with the raising of Grace Halley Thomas, Scarlett’s baby. This book is such a good example of friendship, and the idea that true friendship is a promise that can’t be broken, that any problem can be overcome with somebody by your side, and that there is no other love, than that of a best friend.

– Victoria Sage, sophomore, Pembroke Pines Charter High School

 

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a story about perseverance and friendship, where a strong relationship between two unlikely characters forms. A black man and a white boy were never to be seen with each other in the post civil war days, however, that did not stop Huck and Jim’s adventures together towards freedom. They shared a common interest, the ability to be liberated from society’s demands and enforcements. As they reached closer to what they were searching for, their friendship grew stronger. This novel has truly grasped the true meaning of friendship; it does not matter how different one may seem to be, whether it be the color of their skins, or their ways of living, there will always be a shared interest that will bring two people much closer together.

-- Julia Sarduy, junior, Pembroke Pines Charter High School

 

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

A while ago, I read a book by Isabel Allende that’s called the The House of Spirits. It’s a tale about friendship, love, and the tribulations of life. While going through a rough patch with her family, Blanca Trueba experiences love with the Pedro Tercero Garcia. First, they grow as friends, getting closer each day until their relationship blossoms into a forbidden love. Throughout two thirds of the book, they try to run off together to escape the world of judgment and hate in which they grew up. Their amazing tale of friendship inspires and leaves me in awe.

-- Karina Acevedo, sophomore, Pembroke Pines Charter High School

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower  is novel written through a series of one-way letters, as an anonymous boy who chooses to sign as ‘Charlie’ writes letters to a stranger about his life, with no return address. The novel offers an in depth view into his life, with all the hysterical, traumatizing, exciting, adorable things he has gone through. An intelligent, sweet, socially awkward freshmen with anxiety attacks, Charlie enters high school with no friends. There he soon meets upperclassmen Samantha and Patrick, who quickly befriend him. The letters give you a full view into high school experiences, from drugs to that one caring English teacher. But through it all, you see the friendship that stays constant and never failing between this trio.

– Lauren Suarez, freshman, Pembroke Pines Charter High School

 

Of course, there are endless books about friendship out there for you to check out. Whether it’s about the bond between tree and boy, the struggles of close friends or the strength of an unlikely trio, one thing is for certain – there is bound to be something you can relate to, wrap your heart around and enjoy.

This monthly feature is a place to read the opinions of those so enthusistic about books for teens and children that they’ve made it their career.  Each month, you can read the viewpoints from authors, editors, agents, librarians and booksellers who are passionate about kids lit.

This month our featured contributor is Dorian Cirrone, author of the teen titles Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You and Prom Kings and Drama Queens, as well as two chapter books based on the character Lindy Blues. You can read more about Dorian at her site www.doriancirrone.com.  

By Dorian Cirrone

Rebecca Stead’s Newbery Award-winning novel, When You Reach Me, is a lot like potato chips: You can’t read it just once. Well, you can...but you won’t want to. It’s the type of book that’ll have you going right back to page one, armed with the knowledge of the book’s fabulous surprise ending, and then looking for all the clues you missed. It’s only on a second read that you’ll truly appreciate how every paragraph is a puzzle piece of a finely crafted novel that combines history and suspense along with themes of race, class, and friendship.

The story takes place in New York City during 1979. A television show called “The 20,000 Pyramid” is all the rage and Miranda’s single mom is hoping to make it onto the show so she can win money to help support them. At the same time, Miranda starts to receive strange notes; her best friend, Sal, suddenly abandons her; and a mysterious laughing man, who likes to practice kicks in the middle of the street, seems to come out of nowhere. What does it all mean?

While you’re trying to decipher the clues, you’ll also meet an array of realistic characters in Miranda’s working class neighborhood. Even in their imperfections and disagreements, these friends care fiercely for one another. The way Miranda and her lunchtime pals stand up to a racist to support their friend is touching and exemplary. And Miranda’s covert means of helping a shy classmate with a weak bladder is equally poignant. Such loyalty and friendship is additionally admirable even while Miranda and other members of this small community protect a misunderstood bully from the police.

Stead ups the emotional ante and the suspense each time certain objects appear. You’ll find yourself constantly speculating about the mysterious notes as well as the repeated images of a key, a shoe, a bank, a book, a dentist, and Dick Clark. In the end they’ll all come together with a satisfying conclusion that will make you ponder the nature of relationships and reality long after you close the novel.

Looking for more books about friendship? Click here to see WRN?’s suggestions for teens, middle grade, and picture books. We’re sure you’ll find something else to love our on lists.

Do you have a favorite we’ve left off the list? Send us an email and let us know, we’ll be glad to add your picks to our recommendations.

The Forgotten Quality

By Rebecca San Juan

When the word ‘friendship’ comes to mind, I always picture two little girls. One cups her hand over the other’s ear, telling her a secret. The friend, who leans in to soak in every detail, is trusted with not telling a soul. Just like that a friendship is born under the light of trust. But just as easily as the image of two girls whispering into each other’s ears comes to mind, so does reality.

Honesty, loyalty, and kindness are qualities that put a foundation in a relationship. One mistake where you cross into unchartered land, and, instead of being forgiven like a true friend, you’re cut out of the equation. The secret that was shared, the one that sprouted from the roots of the relationship, means nothing. In the end, the person who tripped into unchartered land is left drowning in a pool of self – pity. It usually takes that person a while to realize that the so – called friendship had never been born, because forgiveness was never a part of the deal.

A book that puts friendship into a new perspective is The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott. The main character, Sarah, is thrown into a loop when her best friend starts dating her long-time crush. This book plays all the cards – guilt, romance, friendship, and the crucial bit – the mask that friends put on to please one another. When everything is put out in the open the reader notices how one forgotten quality decides the future of two childhood friends. “I remember how she needed to be around my parents, my life. I remember how she knew I needed her to shine because it made me think that one day I might shine too. I never thought it would be without her.”

A good book about friendship, like The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, takes off the masks. It allows the reader to see that no relationship can truly bloom until you include the forgotten quality – trust and forgiveness.