Unfriended

(Hardback)

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Unfriended is Rachel Vail's harrowing, hilarious story of friendship in middle school, told by six narrators - four girls and two boys - who keep some secrets locked tight inside, but not all. Not the most embarrassing ones. It feels awesome to be friended. To be dumped Not so much. When Truly is asked to join the Popular Table, she's beyond psyched. Sure, she has to abandon her quirky best friend, Hazel, to get there, but hopefully Hazel won't mind. Anyway, her new friends are fun, smart, and really nice . . . right Or could sweet Natasha be up to her old manipulative tricks again What about tough-guy Jack, perfect Brooke, super-chill Clay Is anybody simply what they seem to be Unfriended is Rachel Vail's harrowing, hilarious story of friendship in middle school, told by six narrators - four girls and two boys - who keep some secrets locked tight inside, but not all. Not the most embarrassing ones. When friendships fracture and trust is betrayed, the drama is exciting - but also veering out of control. And nobody has the full truth. Advance praise for unfriended 'Another winner by Rachel Vail. At times laugh-out-loud funny, and other time heartbreaking, Unfriended is the kind of book I wish there were more of- emotionally complex, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. I never wanted it to end.' Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries and Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls 'Rachel Vail should be required reading for all middle-schoolers. Deft and funny, this tale of the doom and drama of friendships played out in a digital universe is pitch-perfect and sheer fun. I loved it!' Judy Blundell, author of What I Saw and How I Lied 'Rachel Vail's ingenious, humorous, and compassionate storytelling brings her six narrators so fully alive that by the end of her book you cannot imagine ever 'unfriending' any of them.' Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Treehouse books

Reviews

Praise for Unfriended

"Hearkens back to Vail's wonderful The Friendship Ring series in its opportunity 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 insight, 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, insightfully 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 insight 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

Author Bio

Rachel Vail is the author of more than twenty books for young readers, including her first book, Wonder, about which Judy Blume said: "Wonder is wonderful. It's got energy, humor, and heart." Her four-book series, The Friendship Ring, will be reissued in Puffin in Fall 2014. Rachel grew up in New Rochelle and attended Georgetown University. She has two sons; they and their friends provide her with a wealth of material for her writing. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.