Jessica's Reviews > Friends Forever

In the third installment of the semi-autobiographical graphic novel "Friends" series by Shannon Hale, Shannon is juggling friends, families, and feelings about boys.

While I skipped out on the second installment, this third one (set in the 8th grade) takes a much more mature leap. There's boys, making out, alcohol, and even sexual harassment. I understand that 1. this took place in '87, when adults were more lenient and dismissive about many pre-teen issues and 2. that this is a middle grade graphic novel and therefore more geared towards middle school aged children. But the way in which several issues were addressed just rubbed me the wrong way. The telling the humiliating stories of the honored students of the month was terrible. What adult would ever think that's a good idea? And then a girl getting in trouble for BEING pantsed? Instead of the boys pulling her pants down being, I don't know, expelled maybe? Not to mention the sexual harassment of a couple of thirteen year old girls by a mall Santa!!! These were just a handful of the issues that were very glossed over and not necessarily broached as well as they could have been. I appreciated the self-love reminders and Shannon standing up for women's rights, but this was a somewhat uncomfortable/confusing read if trying to put myself in the shoes of some of the 4th and 5th graders in my school that would pick this up...