Book Review: The Friendship War 

By Andrew Clements 

3 Stars 

The Friendship War is a middle-grade novel by Andrew Clements that presents a picture of peer pressure, individuality, and the changing nature of friendships among sixth graders. Grace is a thoughtful young girl who visits her grandfather's mill and finds a huge collection of buttons, and takes it to school—a trend that sets off a stampede—followed by the school kids. 

This book shows how trends can bring people together, but on the other hand, they can also create problems. Here, Grace uses her strengths to connect with her friends but at the same time to reject the temptation to be somebody more and more popular, and this creates tensions within her friendships. 

With respect to middle school issues, Clements easily captures the thrill and the struggle of dealing with trends and growing up. The writing might be readable for younger readers but still offers deep meaning for the older ones. The themes provoked by the book—namely, understanding the pressure from others to behave and the strength it takes to rise above that—give readers motivation in their own lives. 

A small complaint I have is that this book didn't seem as impactful or iconic as his other works, and it might feel a bit too young for me, especially with some of the more petty thoughts explored.  

However, in the end, The Friendship War is, without any question, a highly enjoyable read. Not only does it capture the essence of belonging and being oneself, but it also shows the many subtle social interactions with insightfulness.  

I applaud Clements for offering another engaging story that every young reader caught in the struggles of friendship and self-discovery is bound to find useful. 

Reviewed by Becky 

View in Library Catalogue: Print