Friends for Life

Starred review from May 18, 2015
When Jessica sits on a bench beside a quiet boy named Francis, she is shocked when he offers her tea. This is because Francis is the first person who has been able to see or hear her in the year since she died. Francis’s interest in fashion has made him a pariah at school, so any friend—even a ghost—is welcome. The two immediately bond and get another surprise when Andi, a new student whose aggressive tendencies have isolated her, can see Jessica, too. Three becomes four when Roland, an outcast because of his weight, also sees Jessica. The question of why Jessica has lingered on Earth remains, and the novel shifts from a gentle friendship story to one about depression and suicide as the truth becomes clear. Norriss (I Don’t Believe It, Archie!) has written a sensitive novel that illustrates how easy it is to feel alone, the ways differences can be isolating, and the power of friendship and connection. This memorable story will leave readers thinking about how small actions can have a significant impact. Ages 8–12.

May 15, 2015
A phantom friend makes a life-changing difference in the lives of three English middle schoolers. Bullied at their schools and depressed by their differences, Francis', Andi's, and Roland's lives change when they meet Jessica, a ghost still stuck in the everyday. Francis is seriously interested in fashion and design; he's a gifted seamster. Body-building Andi has a black belt in karate; she's short, squat, and looks like a boy. Video gamer Roland is huge and hugely fat. As an omniscient narrator, Norriss adroitly brings these kids together, gradually reveals what they have in common, and demonstrates the power of friendship. Readers will be sucked into the story by their admiration of Jessica, who can move through walls, appear wherever she wants (during the day), and change her clothing to match anything she sees and likes. By the time the idea of suicide is addressed directly, they'll be thoroughly engaged. Even the addition of an adult character, a counselor who knows the right things to say and do to talk a fourth young teen down from a high wall, doesn't interrupt the flow of this well-crafted friendship story. Bullying and clinical depression go together often enough to make this title useful for book discussions as well as private readings. First published in England as Jessica's Ghost, this will be equally relevant to American readers. An appealing afterlife account with an important message. (Fiction. 10-15)

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July 1, 2015

Gr 5 Up-Francis, a middle school student, is sitting by himself on a bench during lunch. He wants to be alone and seldom speaks to anyone in school. Out of nowhere, a young girl, Jessica, appears wearing a sleeveless dress in the freezing February weather. He offers her warm tea, and she is more than a little startled because she, too, has not communicated with anyone for a very long time-a year, in fact. Jessica is a ghost, and Francis is the first live person able to see and talk to her. Thus begins an unusual friendship of a lonely boy and a sympathetic ghost. But it doesn't end there. Jessica and Francis go ahead and befriend two more lonely souls, Andi and Roland, and the four become inseparable. The adolescents are linked by their painful experiences and their mutual thoughts of suicide. Each person's situation is a bit different; Francis is teased because he likes to design and sew girls' clothes; Andi looks masculine and is quick to punch anyone, boy or girl, who makes comments; while Roland is grossly overweight and bullied. The friends make it their mission to discover why Jessica is still roaming the world of the living. Norriss has a keen eye for well-meaning adults who are nevertheless powerless to prevent possible tragedies. In the course of the book, Norriss provides some positive suggestions that a suicidal or depressed youngster may pick up on. VERDICT This novel deals with the subjects of suicide and depression among young teens and should be available in middle school classrooms and libraries.-Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 For Francis, alone is often better. Shy, apologetic, and bullied because of his unusual interestfashion designFrancis has learned it's best to keep to himself. So when he meets Jessica, friendship is the last thing he expects. But it's a friend he finds: Jessica is spunky, fashionable, and seems to like him. But she is also a ghost, and at first, Francis is the only one who can see her. As their strange friendship blossoms and Jessica coaxes Francis out of his shell, the two encounter others who can see Jessica, and though they have no idea why they all have this in common, they begin to form a fast friendship. As time goes by, they get closer and closer to discovering the devastating truth behind Jessica's death, and the reason they can all see her ghost. British author Norriss deals with some heavy themes heredeath, dying, depressionbut handles them delicately enough for his younger audience, ultimately crafting a simple, quiet story about the effects of bullying and the power of friendship.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2015
It is the lonely Francis who meets Jessica first. Sitting outside his provincial British middle school on a frigid February day, safely away from the classmate who mocks his interest in fashion design, he is startled when a girl dressed in a sleeveless designer confection sits down next to him. Jessica is equally surprised; it turns out that Francis is the first person who has been able to see or hear her since she died a year earlier. They quickly connect, and Francis soon discovers the advantages of being friends with a smart, fashion-conscious ghost: Jessica advises him as he creates beautiful clothes at home and whispers answers to math problems at school. Soon they are joined by tough newcomer Andi, with a reputation for lashing out physically, and withdrawn, overweight Roland, who refuses to go to school at all. The questions of why they are the only ones who can see Jessica, how she died, and what she needs to do in order to move on are all eventually answered in this compelling narrative. Without shying away from the bullying, clinical depression, and deep despair ( The Pit ) that affect his young characters, Norriss employs a sensitive and light touch, balancing moments of sadness and pathos with others of joy and humor. monica edinger

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)