Real Friends

Compare and contrast Real Friends with another book with similar themes. Some options could include Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz or Best Friends by Jacqueline Wilson.

Shannon grows up a lot throughout Real Friends. In your own words, explain how she changes. What is she like at the beginning of the story? How is she different by the end?

Many people struggle to make friends when they are young. Did any of Shannon’s stories about her friends sound familiar to you? Write a personal essay describing your own experiences of making friends.

Jenny and Shannon have a difficult relationship. Write a letter to Jenny or Shannon giving them advice on how they might resolve their differences. Refer to the text when developing your answer.

When Shannon is feeling alone, she sometimes relies on her religion to help her. What do you rely on when things get difficult in your life? How do your strategies help you overcome hardship?

Wendy and Shannon finally reconcile in the last chapter of the book. Why do you think Wendy often got angry with Shannon? What do you think helped them ultimately reconcile? Think carefully about the evidence presented in the text when writing your answer.

Social pressure sometimes pushes Shannon to change her behavior. She chooses not to play with Heidi, for instance, because her friends tell her that the way Heidi plays is childish. Do you think Shannon makes the right choice in that instance? Why or why not?

Shannon experiences some symptoms of mental illness during the story. She says in her Author’s Note that doctors never figured out what she was experiencing. In your opinion, are there better resources for young people experiencing mental illness today than there were when Shannon was young?