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From School Library Journal --------------------------- Gr 6–9—When Truly is invited to the popular table by her former best friend, Natasha, she is excited to finally get a chance at the "in" crowd. Unsure if she is really accepted by them, she worries about doing and saying the wrong thing. Popular Natasha is torn between being a good friend to Truly and being jealous of the attention that she gets. Meanwhile, Hazel, Truly's current best friend, who is decidedly unpopular and anti-popularity, is hurt and angry at being abandoned by her friend. She seeks revenge by hacking into all of Truly's online accounts. The addition of social media amplifies each snub, misunderstanding, and deliberate meanness. Although the characters' interactions may, at first glance seem melodramatic, it is a realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is depicted as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social climber, while Natasha's mean streak is the obvious product of questionable parenting. The other characters are multidimensional; they have struggles and worries, and are not the flat, stereotypical popular kids that are sometimes portrayed YA novels. As these young people navigate the already awkward world of middle school, the fact that accusations, rumors, and lies are made public for the world to see make adolescent mistakes much more grave. A solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion.—Patricia Feriano, Our Lady of Mercy School, Potomac, MD Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ Praise for Unfriended: "Hearkens back to Vail’s wonderful The Friendship Ring series in its rtunity to see how various characters delight, suffer, and rationalize, complicating the portrayals. . . Clear and compelling. . . This will be an irresistible starter to a discussion of ethics and values, and readers will appreciate both the cautionary tale and the message of survival’s possibility." —BCCB, starred review "With keen in, Vail reveals the internal struggles with uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless of popularity status. . . With a resolution that is both realistic and hopeful, Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, infully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity." —Publishers Weekly "Vail has a great ear for dialogue, and her characters. . . are well differentiated and realistic." —VOYA "A realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is depicted as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social climber. . . [and] the other characters are multidimensional; they have struggles and worries, and are not the flat, stereotypical popular kids that are sometimes portrayed in YA novels. . . A solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion." —School Library Journal "Vail brings her sharp observations and wry humor to the world of eighth-grade friendships." —Horn Book "Mean girls, misunderstood girls, awkward boys, friendship, popularity, social misfits, all play into this book that epitomizes the roller coaster that is middle school." —LMC Praise for Rachel Vail: "Wonder is wonderful! It's got energy, humor and heart." —Judy Blume, for Wonder “The writing is sharp, unpredictably clever” —Avi, Newbery Medalist, for Justin Case: School, Drool, and other Daily Disasters “Vail again demonstrates a penetrating in into the concerns of young teen girls … Readers will absorb this in one fell swoop.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Lucky “Vail proves that first love is anything but simple and sweet. Her razor-sharp wit will keep readers turning pages.” —Publishers Weekly, for If We Kiss Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/0670013072/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )