Let’s face it, friendships can be challenging. BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? tackles friendship struggles head-on, leaving readers informed and empowered as they navigate the tricky world of friendship.
Through fun activities, quizzes, and real stories, this award-winning book helps girls decipher healthy vs. unhealthy relationship skills and how to navigate struggles. But more importantly, this book gives readers a new perspective on friendship and the role they play in creating positive change.
BFF or NRF BOOK RESOURCES
BFF or NRF AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- FINALIST: 2022 Kids Book Choice Awards (Best Non-Prose Book)
- AWARDED: 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Award
- READING MIDDLE GRADE: 10 Best Middle Grade Fiction and Non-Fiction Pairings
- SCBWI’s Impact and Legacy Fund’s Ten Books that Address Meanness (January 2024)
BOOK-RELATED VIDEOS & ARTICLES
The Friendship Pyramid
The Friendship Pyramid is a framework that helps kids, families, and classrooms understand friendship skills and their social worlds. Full post
Friendship Truth #1
Nine “Friendship Truths” are shared throughout BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? A Girls Guide to Happy Friendships. Here’s Truth #1. Full post
Friendship Truth #2
When we emphasize that social skills are learned and improve with practice, it opens the door to personal growth and change. Full post
Friendship Truth #3
Friendship changes and instability are common during the preteen and teen years, but that doesn’t make them any less difficult. Full post
Friendship Truth #5
Starting around 4th grade, the term “popular” emerges in kids’ conversations about their social world. When I ask kids what makes someone “popular,” their responses reflect a consistent set of traits and behaviors. Full post
Friendship Truth #6
Everyone makes mistakes. We are human, after all. But mistakes in our friendships are sometimes difficult to navigate and repair. Full post
Friendship Truth #7
Preteen and teen friendships may feel fragile, so it makes sense that some kids have a hard time speaking up when someone is not treating them well. Full post
Friendship Truth #8
We all have different temperaments, skills, and needs. Because of these differences, it makes sense that people respond to conflict differently. Full post
Friendship Truth #9
The social networks of kids and teens are complex. Because these networks are intertwined, it is no easy task for kids who want to stop being friends with someone. Full post
BOOK REVIEWS
“With the recent emphasis on social-emotional learning, this guide discusses friendship in an accessible way…”
School Library Journal
“BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends): A Girl’s Guide to Happy Friendships takes a thoughtful and joyful approach that appeals to young teens and tweens but also to parents, grandparents, educators, and others interested in the well-being of young people. The advice in this delightful book is practical but also fun, written in a conversational style, and is a great resource to have around the house. It contains real-life situations, vignettes, scenarios, advice from other kids, practicing techniques, and fun quizzes to help readers remember the most important lessons. In other words, this isn’t another preachy tell-you-what-to-do book. It’s a friendly, interactive guidebook that shares how young people can learn about friendship and connection.”
Libby Kiszner, Columnist, Educator, and Author of Dear Libby – Will You Answer My Questions About Friendship? and other books
“Many girls struggle with friendship issues in elementary and middle school. This book provides a clear roadmap for girls to successfully navigate difficult friendships while helping them gain social awareness, skills and confidence in the process.”
Dr. Cherylee E. Hirsch, Psy.D., School Psychologist
“This is a great guide for empowering young girls on how to navigate friendships in positive, healthy ways!”
Trudy Ludwig, Author of My Secret Bully and The Invisible Boy
“Insightful, easy to read, and incredibly helpful! In a supportive and encouraging tone you’d want from a best friend, BFF or NRF gives you real solutions to friendship challenges. The fun and useful quizzes, and the unique Friendship Pyramid, combined with the nurturing wisdom and loving guidance you’ll find in these pages will help pre-teens and teens to navigate the sometimes rough waters of friendships both today and in the future. It really is a must-read!”
Denise Marek, Author of CALM for Moms Who Worry, and CALM: A Proven Four-Step Process Designed Specifically for Women Who Worry