The Real Deal
- Subject
- Social Themes - Friendship
- Age
- 6-8 years
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Size
- 14.7 cm Ă 21.6 cm
- ISBN
- 9780063206854
Two best friends discover the danger and power of secrets in this pitch perfect standalone from the acclaimed author of Just Like Jackie and Brave Like That.
Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, thatâs never been a question.
Until now. Things still feel the same on the surfaceâtheyâre even making a comic about their friendshipâbut lately Oliverâs acting like he might be hiding something.
And then thereâs Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesnât talkânot ever. The other kids say mean things and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isnât rightâbut he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.
Through the character he and Oliver create in their comic adventure, the experience they have babysitting twin toddlers, and with the help of a troublemaking seventh grader who gets sent to their sixth-grade class, Gabe begins to find his voice and become the realest-deal version of his own self. But if he does thatâcan he still hold onto his best friend, too?
Perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Linda Mullaly Hunt, this novel from Lindsey Stoddard, whose stories were lauded as âremarkableâ by the New York Times Book Review, will have fans new and old hooked.
About the author
Lindsey StoddardAuthor
Data provided by BiblioShare.
What reviewers said
"This is a moving story about friendship, family and the courage it takes to stand up to oneâs peers, a story that drew me right in and kept me absorbed until the last page. An ode to the strength of silence, as well as the power of words."
"A brilliant, bold, and beautiful book. Lindsey Stoddard tackles tough, thorny topics with nuance and grace, never once compromising readability or relatability. She is the real deal."
"This genuinely thoughtful and ultimately joyful gem about friendship and the many ways that a voice has power is an absolute treasure. I was rooting for Gabe from the moment I met him and was captivated as he navigated his way through the small moments that have big meaning in middle school life, surprising himself along the way. The Real Deal is laced with humor, and brimming with an abundance of heart -- vibrant, charming, and absolutely real."
"A warm narrative of school community and personal growth."
âThe story does a lot of things well, including its subtle examination of masculinity and friendship.â
Praise for Bea is for Blended: "A little bit coming of age, family drama, sports hype, and school shenanigans all rolled into one for an appealing read."
âAn absolute treasure. Vibrant, charming, and absolutely real.â
