REAL FRIENDS AND GIRLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

 
If you have a daughter in middle school, you know the friendship topic is an ever-changing one. One day, someone is their best-friend and the next day, they might not feel the same way. It is a time when they are trying to maintain the friendships they grew up with, while exploring new ones.

Middle school years are difficult ones for anyone but girls seem to have a little harder time, especially in today's society with all the bullying that goes on.  This is why Real Friends, by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham is such a great book for girls to read, even before they start middle school, probably around end of 4th grade or 5th grade is a good age to recommend this book.

"Real Friends" is an illustrated memoir about how difficult it is to find "real" friends and the journey.

I remember when my daughter was in middle school, I felt like I was dropping her off in a lion's den every day.  It was literally the nature of the animal (no pun intened) but it was a jungle out there, not knowing who would be loyal, who would be up to no good and knowing that there were and always will be those group of girls we all recognize as the "gossipy" ones, who never have anything nice to say, no matter what you do!  

As a mom, I can relate to this because of my daughter, but I can also remember living those middle school years as well.  

Today's tweens and teens have a lot of different issues to deal with such as social media pressure and bullying and "Real Friends" is a great read to make girls this age, feel that they are not alone. It lets them know that finding "real friends" is worth the journey!

Good luck on your journey raising a tween or teen by the way!