Parents' Guide to

Friendship Over: The Top-Secret Diary of Celie Valentine, Book 1

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fun and insightful look at elementary school friend drama.

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FRIENDSHIP OVER: THE TOP SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE is a fun romp that takes on the ever-present topic of friend drama through the eyes of Celie Valentine. Author Julie Sternberg does a great job making Celie's travels through her trials charming and familiar, though the dialogue sometimes makes Celie sound more like an 8-year-old than a contemporary 10-year-old. Readers will learn some great coping skills to help deal with overwhelming emotions and times when friends don't see eye to eye.

Some of the most intriguing moments in the novel are when Celie investigates her grandmother's strange behavior, and there's real depth shown in the interactions of the family during those times. As more families take on the task of caring for their elderly relatives, more and more kids and adults may identify with the resulting change in the family dynamic.

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