Friend Me by Sheila M. Averbuch (author)

What happens when an online friend becomes a real-life nightmare? Roisin hasn’t made a single friend since moving from Ireland to Massachusetts. In fact, she is falling apart under constant abuse from a school bully, Zara. Zara torments Roisin in person and on social media. She makes Roisin the laughingstock of the whole school. Roisin feels utterly alone… until she bonds with Haley online. Finally there’s someone who gets her. Haley is smart, strong, and shares anti-mean-girl memes that make Roisin laugh. Together, they are able to imagine what life could look like without Zara. Haley quickly becomes Roisin’s lifeline. Then Zara has a painful accident, police investigate, and Roisin panics. Could her chats with Haley look incriminating? Roisin wants Haley to delete her copies of their messages, but when she tries to meet Haley in person, she can’t find her anywhere. What’s going on? Her best friend would never have lied to her, right? Or is Haley not who she says she is…

With twists, turns, and lightning-fast pacing, this is a middle-grade thriller about bullying, revenge, and tech that young readers won’t be able to put down.

Praise for Friend Me: “Friend Me is a heart-racing escalation from toxic teen power play and the dangers of social media to a darkly searing near-future thriller. A stunning debut.” – Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity

Product Details

Format

Hardback

ISBN

9781338618082

Publisher

Scholastic US

Date published

November 5th, 2020

Lexile measure

630L

Other details

272 pages

Condition

New

Reviews

Mona Burns
on 23 November 2020

Spellbinding

FRIEND ME had me hooked from the first chapter. It was like watching a movie in my head. I could put myself in Roisin’s place and felt that I was her throughout the book. Her situation is familiar to a lot of people. Very thrilling and current. “Not just for middle graders”
Fantastic first novel.

5out of 5
Hilly
on 23 November 2020

*Clicks the 'Like' button*

I read this with my daughters. We quickly got sucked in to Roisin's story of complicated teenage friendships, made all the more complicated by social media. My kids are just getting to this stage in their own lives, and it gave us much to talk about! An awesome story that tackles some important issues.

5out of 5
Mary Morrin
on 23 November 2020

Friend Me....brilliant!

For young teenagers, who are unable to be without their phones, this is the book that will pique their interest. Beautifully written, totally engages the reader from the start to the last word. Bullying, reactions, technology, friendship (and lack of), artificial intelligence...this book has it all. Wonderful debut.

5out of 5
Panda
on 23 November 2020

I couldn't put it down

I loved the main character Roisin, and everything she was going through being a new girl at school and bullying was really terrible for her, but really interesting and believable. It was exciting from the start, it keeps you interested and reading all the way until the end (I finished it in two days, because I just had to find out what happens next), which was even more exciting and really heart racing. It was even more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and I really wanted to read the book, so you can imagine. I have recommended it to my friends, and think everyone should try it. I just started reading it again for the second time. I wanted to say more but I don't want to spoil things!

5out of 5
Amanda
on 23 November 2020

Debut, seriously??

This was a debut novel.......seriously? This put all other debuts I have read this year to shame. Outstanding storyline and those twists......OMG. Just when I thought I had figured it out it turned on me. Hands down the best book I have read this year. If I could award this more than 5 stars I would. Incredible! I must have more from this author.

5out of 5
Stella B
on 23 November 2020

Friend Me

This is an amazing debut novel that would especially appeal to readers who need to be peeled off their screens! I couldn't put it down. Well written and pacey, great storytelling. Highly recommended.

5out of 5