Unfriended

July 21, 2014
Backbiting, scheming classmates take center stage in Vail’s (the Justin Case series) contemporary novel about middle-school relationships and acts of disloyalty. The nastiness begins when sixth-grader Truly betrays her friend Hazel by joining the popular group. Truly’s former best friend Natasha has ulterior motives for inviting Truly into the coveted circle, but Truly doesn’t know that. When both Hazel and Natasha turn against Truly, the result is a slew of mean-spirited online posts that cause trouble at school and make everyone miserable. The book is told from the rotating perspectives of six middle-schoolers—including Truly, Natasha, and Hazel—who are peripherally or directly affected by the ongoing drama, which draws in some of the boys in the class as well. Readers only get brief, glimpses into the complex problems at home, personal conflicts, and motivations for the students resisting or engaging in the bullying. A history project involving a reenactment of Benedict Arnold’s traitorous scheme finally forces the girls to see the errors of their ways, leading to a too-tidy, overly optimistic resolution. Ages 11–up. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House.

August 15, 2014
Eighth-grader Truly's foray into popularity spirals into a tempest of deceit and betrayal. Upon turning 13, Truly is given a measure of technological freedom: a cellphone and access to social media. But this soon evolves into a quagmire of problems for Truly. When former BFF Natasha invites her to join the Popular Table during lunchtime and to collaborate on a school assignment, Truly is surprised but thrilled. However, Natasha's overtures hide an ulterior motive. In the pursuit of popularity, Truly neglects her friendship with Hazel, who retaliates by plotting revenge utilizing social media. The Truly/Hazel dynamic is just one component of this interwoven story. Vail explores the motivations and private quandaries of the six characters who narrate the tale, from Jack, the quiet advocate for those excluded, to the socially conscious and manipulative Natasha, who yearns to be the most popular. With keen insight, Vail reveals the internal struggles with uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless of popularity status. Natasha's schemes and Hazel's misdeeds lead to a relentless barrage of bullying via social media for Truly. While a dramatic moment reveals the extent of Truly's anguish, Vail concludes the tale with a resolution that is both realistic and hopeful. Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity. (Fiction. 12-15)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2014

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

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2014
Grades 6-9 Vail has always had her finger solidly on the pulse of middle-school social dynamics, with an uncanny ear for young teen dialogue and a real empathy for the wide and awkward range of social and physical development that characterize this age. In her latest title, which addresses cyberbullying among eighth-graders, multiple narrators give their first-person accounts of the thorny relationship between former best friends Truly and Natashaand its effects on the social dynamic of a wide circle. Natasha is now the queen bee of the popular crowd, while Truly is still physically tiny and socially awkward, hanging out with determinedly iconoclastic Hazel. When Natasha suddenly invites Truly to eat lunch with the popular crowd, everything changes and eventually deteriorates via Facebook posts. Two of the narrators are male, and Vail casts an understanding, sympathetic eye at the academic, social, and physical stresses on young men. Once again, Vail effectively conveys the sometimes unthinking cruelty of middle-school society with a clear and objective eye. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Vail's considerable fan base alone would justify multiple-copy purchase plans, but the hot-button topic of cyberbullying will further increase requests.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)