Middle school friendships can be difficult to navigate. Middle schoolers are trying to figure out who they are and what they are interested in. So we are always on the lookout for books that model great friendships that are fun, supportive, and positive.
Here are some books that we loved that just so happened to have great friendships. (Click on book names or covers for affiliate links)
Mamie and Buster
I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Set in 1969, in the midst of the first USA moon landing, 10-year-old Mamie gets left home alone when her parents and her older sister all think someone else is watching her. Buster, Mamie’s best friend, is the only one who knows she is home alone. Buster is everything a best friend should be. When he realizes how interested Mamie is in the moon landing he learns everything he can about it and watches the events unfold on TV with her. He is supportive and a constant companion. He knows when to keep a secret but also knows when to break a confidence to help his best friend. Everyone needs a friend like Buster. He is the kind of friend who would always be “your person.”
Frost, Deedee, Wolf, and Bench
Posted by John David Anderson
Friends Frost, Deedee, Wolf, and Bench are misfits who are thrown together by circumstances and bond over video games and Dungeons and Dragons. When the school bans cell phones, students start communicating through post-it notes. These friends learn how words can be weapons, how bullying hurts, and how people and friendships change. The characters are flawed and the friendships are flawed but that’s what makes this book so good.
Aven, Connor, and Zion
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Thirteen-year-old Aven was born with no arms. When her family moves from Kansas to Arizona she struggles to fit in and to eat in front of everyone. Aven meets Connor, who suffers from Tourettes syndrome, and Zion, who gets made fun of because of his weight. These three teenagers bond over their differences but also push each other to reach their potential, don’t let each other use their differences to hold them back, and learn how to forgive and be forgiven. These endearing books are about overcoming challenges, but the friendships are what really make them shine.
Hank, Frankie, and Ashley
Niagara Falls, Or Does It? 1 (Hank Zipzer), by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
This series is about the school and family adventures of Hank Zipzer, a fourth grader with dyslexia and ADHD. Hank is constantly getting himself into trouble and into tough situations because of his learning challenges. Hank and his best friends, Frankie and Ashley, are so appealing because they understand each other. Frank and Ashley know why Hank is forgetful and struggles in school, they love and support him, and are always on hand to help him out of a pickle even when the adults in his life are not very empathetic.
Amanda and Leo
11 Birthdays: A Wish Novel by Wendy Mass
Amanda and Leo were best friends for ten years, going as far as celebrating every birthday together, until their tenth birthday when they learn that some words can never be taken back. On her 11th birthday Amanda is feeling the sting of not celebrating with Leo. See how these friends make things right and how friendship prevails when Amanda gets a second chance in this Groundhog Day-esque book.
Jackson and Crenshaw
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Jackson’s family is down on their luck. His parents are selling their belongings to make rent and they ultimately end up living in their van. Jackson is a smart kid and a budding scientist who is wise beyond his years and keenly aware of his family’s struggles. So it’s surprising when his imaginary friend, a large cat named Crenshaw, shows up to help him deal with the stress of his family situation. Crenshaw, who is more prickly than warm and fuzzy, helps Jackson through a difficult time and shows us that friends, real or imagined, matter when facing struggles.
Anne and Diana & Anne and Gilbert
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
If you like to dip into the classics the Anne of Green Gables series is a great way to explore friendships. Anne, an orphan, reached the age of eleven without the best friend she has always longed for. When she is adopted by siblings, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, Anne is thrilled that their closest neighbor has a daughter her age. Anne and Diana become “bosom buddies” immediately. Anne and Gilbert’s friendship takes longer to develop because Gilbert makes fun of Anne’s red hair, her “lifelong sorrow.”. Gilbert and Anne finally become friends and eventually more. These books chronicle Anne, Diana and Gilbert’s adventures and mis-adventures and show how friendship can change and develop over time.
Shannon and Adrienne
Real Friends by Shannon Hale
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends forever. But when Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl at school, Shannon starts to wonder whether her friendship with Adrienne will survive. This graphic novel memoir touches on bullying and friendship and how to survive a turbulent family.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
What list of books about friendship is complete without Harry Potter on it? Until he was accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had no friends. So when he meets Ron and Hermione we can’t help but cheer for their friendship This magical trio get in and out of scrapes together by supporting and trusting each other. Ron introduces humor into Harry’s life and shows him what family is about and Hermione is always there for him. Harry is loyal to both of his friends as he discovers that family is more than just blood. These three friends always have each other’s backs in their quest to defeat Voldemort.
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