★★★★☆
Author: Melanie Conklin
Genre: YA Contemporary
Reps: anxiety
Content Warning: trauma, anxiety, inappropriate/unwarranted touch and comments, harassmant
Format/Source: earc
From Goodreads: A heartfelt middle grade story about changing friendships, peer pressure, and the courage to speak up when lines are crossed, perfect for fans of Starfish and The Benefits of Being an Octopus. Sophie Valentine would rather be at home, doing school virtually. Instead, she’s waiting in a crowded middle school building for her best friend, Eve, who’s finally back after an extended absence, which only Sophie knows the truth about. But when Eve returns, things aren’t the same. First, Eve stops walking to school with her in the morning. Then, she’s ditching Sophie to hang out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids notorious for their social media dares. Eve seems to fit right in, but Sophie is Did she just lose her best friend? When rumors surface that Eve is hiding a painful secret she didn’t share with Sophie, Sophie is spurred on an investigation to discover what—or who—caused the incident behind Eve’s sudden change…and why all clues lead back to the Crash Crew. Using lessons from her forensics class and the help of a new friend, Sophie will have to uncover the truth before more harm is done.
While on the surface, this is a middle grade novel about two friends growing apart, CRUSHED is so much more than it first appears. Tackling complex issues is not an easy feat, yet this novel crushed them all together and what came out was an explosion of relatability and heart.
In the story, Sophie’s best friend, who secretly struggled with self-harm or attempted suicide, returns to school after claiming she had mono. Sophie, the only one who knows the truth, is left to keep her friend’s secret. When Eve returns, she distances herself from Sophie and starts hanging out with the “Crash Crew,” known for their daredevil antics on social media.
With a focus on how social media impacts the lives of our youth, I appreciated how the story winds its way around Sophie navigating her understanding of the situation while making new friends. The way Eve and Sophie’s personal struggles strain their friendship feels authentic, yet the story uplifted Sophie with the very real life blossoming of a new friendship.
Conklin gives us an insightful experience of how middle schoolers grapple with their personal challenges, often unable to do so themselves and needing assistance to navigate them. Sophie’s portrayal of panic attacks, which emerged during the pandemic, is realistic and reflects a growing issue in school environments for the last several years.
…PLAYLIST….
While reading this novel, the musical influences that swarmed my brain were so loud that I just could not pass up putting them into a playlist. Please enjoy!
About the Author:
Melanie Conklin is the author of Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, and A Perfect Mistake. Melanie grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
Website:https://www.melanieconklin.com/Twitter:https://twitter.com/MLConklinInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/melanieconklinauthor/Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8041873
