Crushed

April 8, 2024
Twelve-year-old Brooklynite Sophie Valentine is thrilled when her best friend Eve returns to school in January following an extended absence, about which only Sophie knows the truth: “Eve tried to hurt herself.” But ever since Eve began hanging out with the Crash Crew—a group of kids who perform sometimes-risky social media dares—the autumn before her leave, things haven’t been the same for the two lifelong friends. Since virtual learning ended, Sophie’s anxiety has intensified, especially around members of the Crash Crew—Chaz invades Sophie’s personal space and Ashley makes snide comments that drag Sophie down. Moreover, Eve herself is pulling away, leading to Sophie’s experiencing panic attacks as she tries to fit in with the daredevils. When Eve references a previous dare that led to her self-harm, Sophie endeavors to resurrect their friendship by using what she’s learned in her forensic science unit to find out the details of the dare. Interludes from supporting characters add depth to Sophie’s community landscape, highlighting keenly rendered middle school social dynamics in this layered, perceptive examination of shifting friendship and post-pandemic anxiety by Conklin (A
Perfect Mistake). Main characters read as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Myrsini Stephanides, Arc Literary Management.

May 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 Sophie and Eve are the very best of friends. Or, were. When Eve experiences sexual harassment, attempts self-harm as a result, and is taken out of school for a period of time, Sophie maintains a respectful distance while deeply longing for her friend's return. Sadly, Eve seems like a completely different person when she gets back to school, and Sophie is left alone, wondering where she may have gone wrong. Sophie, who experiences panic attacks, finds a new friend in Stewart, and together they cope with the challenges of feeling like outsiders. With a plot situated firmly in the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the anxieties of returning to school after lockdown, the novel might have somewhat limited appeal. That said, the work deals with serious topics in ways that will always be topical. The author provides a realistic portrait of middle-grade struggles with a light, adept touch, resulting in a meaningful and, ultimately, hopeful primer on middle school, mental health, social media, and the true meaning of friendship. Hand to readers who liked Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger (2015).

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2024
Middle schoolers deal with peer pressure in the age of online bullying. Sophie Valentine hates crowds. They give her The Shakes, what she calls her panic attacks. Sophie's best friend, Eve, has always been there for her, especially during the pandemic lockdown, but beginning over Thanksgiving break, Eve took an extended absence from school for inpatient treatment due to suicidality, information that Sophie has kept confidential. Now that Eve's returned, something has changed--she's hanging out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids known for their online challenges and exclusionary behavior. One group member, Chaz, makes Sophie especially uncomfortable, touching and verbally threatening her. A school forensic science unit involving a fictitious murder encourages Sophie to investigate the causes behind her dissolving friendship with Eve and the actions of the Crash Crew. The short chapters switch among settings that include the Valentine family bookstore (where Sophie helps out), Sophie's therapy sessions, and school. The chapters close with statements from supporting characters that echo witness testimonies in the science project. Sophie's gentle conversations with her therapist and her Greek American ER doctor mother help her unpack social media bullying and sexual harassment; both adults provide sound and compassionate advice. Conklin offers readers practical, hope-filled, and developmentally appropriate perspectives on social anxiety and peer pressure. Main characters are coded white. Relatable, informative, and needed. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 28, 2024

Gr 5-8-Things haven't been the same for seventh grader Sophie Valentine since the pandemic; she misses virtual learning, and her anxiety over crowds and accepting change has evolved into panic attacks. Now that her best friend Eve has returned to school from treatment for self-harm, Sophie is excited to get back into their BFF routine-but Eve is avoiding Sophie and lying about her whereabouts. She has fallen in with the Crash Crew, a group of kids obsessed with doing dares that they upload online. As Sophie tries to hold on, Eve keeps pulling away. When it's revealed that the source of Eve's distress was a nonconsensual phone screenshot, Sophie is determined to find the culprit and repair their friendship. This storyline operates alongside a fictitious murder case assignment in Sophie's science class, providing forensic methods that Sophie then applies to her own investigation. Some dialogue seems advanced for seventh graders, especially their incredibly mature revelations about feelings and relationships. Other scenes, like Sophie's therapy sessions, can feel didactic, but provide helpful information about anxiety and coping mechanisms. Sophie is a realistically imperfect protagonist; she has a tendency to steamroll friendships and over-rely on Eve, but is also caring and has an innate sense of morality. The mystery's reveal will not come as a surprise to most; it is slightly disappointing that the novel's consequence for real and repeated sexual harassment is more pranking, versus immediately involving trusted adults. The ending is saccharine, but readers will be happy to see Sophie has grown more comfortable with herself and her friendships, old and new. VERDICT A timely novel that tackles mental health, friendship, and the impact of social media on tweens. A solid addition to middle grade fiction collections.-Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.