Eric Sutton's Reviews > Friends Forever

I'm revamping my graphic memoir unit at school, so you'll see a few graphic text reviews coming from me soon, probably in rather quick succession because they're so easy to read! I mean that in the best way possible - I think graphic texts are such a wonderful way for students to gain exposure to different genres. On the latter point, I am speaking specifically to memoir, as I have seen students captivated in reading personal stories captured through illustrations. For whatever reason, it has a way of making interior worlds come alive, and that's really important for young people to witness. It acts as motivation in bringing their own stories to life. I have not read the first two installments of the Friends series, but I loved this third part. Teaching eighth graders, I really could relate to Shannon's difficulties, not only her social anxiety but the immense pressure she heaped on herself. The mental health piece was refreshing and pertinent, and the fact that the story is set in the '80s makes her depression all the more difficult to read because it was so misunderstood and easily dismissed at the time. Definitely a good candidate to make the short list!