Crushed

Twelve-year-old Brooklynite Sophie Valentine is thrilled when her best friend Eve returns to school in January following an extended absence, about which only Sophie knows the truth: "Eve tried to hurt herself." But ever since Eve began hanging out with the Crash Crew--a group of kids who perform sometimes-risky social media dares--the autumn before her leave, things haven't been the same for the two lifelong friends. Since virtual learning ended, Sophie's anxiety has intensified, especially around members of the Crash Crew--Chaz invades Sophie's personal space and Ashley makes snide comments that drag Sophie down. Moreover, Eve herself is pulling away, leading to Sophie's experiencing panic attacks as she tries to fit in with the daredevils. When Eve references a previous dare that led to her self-harm, Sophie endeavors to resurrect their friendship by using what she's learned in her forensic science unit to find out the details of the dare. Interludes from supporting characters add depth to Sophie's community landscape, highlighting keenly rendered middle school social dynamics in this layered, perceptive examination of shifting friendship and post-pandemic anxiety by Conklin (A Perfect Mistake). Main characters read as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Myrsini Stephanides, Arc Literary Management. (July)

Middle schoolers deal with peer pressure in the age of online bullying. Sophie Valentine hates crowds. They give her The Shakes, what she calls her panic attacks. Sophie's best friend, Eve, has always been there for her, especially during the pandemic lockdown, but beginning over Thanksgiving break, Eve took an extended absence from school for inpatient treatment due to suicidality, information that Sophie has kept confidential. Now that Eve's returned, something has changed--she's hanging out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids known for their online challenges and exclusionary behavior. One group member, Chaz, makes Sophie especially uncomfortable, touching and verbally threatening her. A school forensic science unit involving a fictitious murder encourages Sophie to investigate the causes behind her dissolving friendship with Eve and the actions of the Crash Crew. The short chapters switch among settings that include the Valentine family bookstore (where Sophie helps out), Sophie's therapy sessions, and school. The chapters close with statements from supporting characters that echo witness testimonies in the science project. Sophie's gentle conversations with her therapist and her Greek American ER doctor mother help her unpack social media bullying and sexual harassment; both adults provide sound and compassionate advice. Conklin offers readers practical, hope-filled, and developmentally appropriate perspectives on social anxiety and peer pressure. Main characters are coded white. Relatable, informative, and needed. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.