The woes of adolescence and family drama with a little (or should I say a LOT of environmentalism thrown in. For a environment loving middle schooler, this one might just hit the mark. I will say I would have liked to see the diversity of our world/communities intertwined a bit more in the story.

It took me about half the book to really get into it. I also feel like the true moral of the story was overshadowed by too much talk of environmentalism. While indeed a key component of the book, it was overdone in my opinion.

Middle grade readers will be drawn in by the beautiful cover and intriguing description. Overall, it's a nice story of friendship and what happens when friends get into an argument, The parents seemed really interesting with their careers centering around garbology. I wish the author had provided more depth to those characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to young readers who are into environmentalism or experiencing turbulence with a friend. Interest Level: Grades 4-6. Reading Level: 5.6.

Definitely for younger readers, mid-late primary I'd suggest, this story was sweet and had many interesting elements. Unfortunately I just couldn't warm up to one of the main characters, Cora, who is feeling angry, lost and defiant about her broken friendship with Sybella. The two fifth-graders, along with super positive Kyle (Cora's twin), share a beautiful imaginary world, and they go through many relatable ups and downs (divorcing parents, difficult relationships). However, the slow pace at the beginning of the book really put me off. Though the very strong theme of sustainability and rubbish disposal was interesting, it also became slightly distracting from the main story line.

An issues-conscious, primary aged student, who loves real world problems and stories of friendship would undoubtedly enjoy this read.

I had a hard time engaging with this book. The characters are not especially complex or even likeable. The plot relied a bit too much on coincidence for my tastes.

The Friendship Lie was a great story of how friendships change, family changes, feelings change, but through it all you have your strength. There were parts of the story that just made me cringe as I recalled being in some of those very same situations. Then there were parts that brought joy as we saw the characters emerge victorious. Children in upper elementary and middle school will easily connect with the characters and themes.

I really enjoyed this story of two middle school girls who are upset with each other, but just can't quite figure out how to make the first step toward an apology. It's hard to be vulnerable, especially when you're already hurt, sad, angry and a whole host of emotions you don't really want to deal with. Rebecca Donnelly did an amazing job of creating a story that had you rooting for their friendship even when you didn't think the girls would ever talk again.

The Friendship Lie, by Rebecca Donnelly, tells the story of two best friends, Cora and Sybella. Core and Sybella have been inseparable since they were little. Their friendship is solid and enduring. At least, that's what Cora always thought it was like.

But life changes, and so do friendships. Cora knows that for a fact. Her parents are separated and now her mother is living halfway across the world. Her life is in shambles and the seeming end of her friendship with Sybella is more than Cora can take. She wants her best friend back, but neither Cora or Sybella know what to do next.

The narrators in this story shift back and forth. As you read, you will have the opportunity to see the story from both Cora and Sybella's point of view. This allows both sides of the argument to be seen and understood. I think the choice to switch narrators allows readers to understand both viewpoints and characters' actions equally.

The one characteristic of this story that I would change is the hard push of environmentalism. Garbage and clean habits are key to this story, but it is almost overdone to a fault. In my opinion, the heart of the story is the relationship between Cora and Sybella. At times, the trash talk overpowers the key storyline, and I think that takes away from the real heart of the message.

It is often so hard for me to tell with ARC’s how much more work the publisher’s and authors might do on a book before publishing. This one could have done with a bit more polishing which I hoped it received because at it’s core it is a very good story that I think kids will enjoy.

What went right:
Both Cora and Sybella are very engaging kids. You could tell that they just had that bond that will keep them friends even through the tough times.
I really liked Kyle, Cora’s twin brother. He was such a delight throughout the whole book.
Marni is the new girl, who is very annoying and is the instigator of the whole troubles. I think kids will sympathize with her.
I enjoyed learning more about garbage and recycling. A message that many still need to hear. It was done in some pretty neat ways as well, such as their birthday presents being wrapped in plain paper as opposed to wrapping paper.
Although we don’t hear a lot about their imaginary world Aquafaba, what we do know was a lot of fun and quite imaginative. I think 5th graders will like to know that it is still ok to imagine.
The friendship drama was well done and the message of having to admit things when you are wrong was done with just the right amount of emotions.
What went wrong:
I mentioned above that I liked the recycling message that the book had and I do, but it was pushed maybe just a tad too much. It was pretty constant in everything these kids did.
There was a constant switching back and forth in the timeline without much warning. This I think is a formatting issue too, as sometimes there wasn’t a break in the text. Better chapter headings would help with this.
This next point is a bit hard without spoiling, but the whole diary thing just didn’t work for me and it didn’t really seem to mesh with the overall plot of the story. It did help Cora come to the conclusion that she needed to apologize to Sybella, before it was too late.
Overall this was a good story, it just needed a little bit more work to smooth out the edges. I think though that kids will like and appreciate that the author has captured what it is like to be that age and to have friendship troubles.

I recieved a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This book is a great idea for probably around 4th graders... young readers who are environmentally aware, but who can read past that to the conclusion. There really is a great lesson in this book about getting to the bottom of misunderstandings, and the struggle to apologize even when it's hard to admit part of the fault.


That being said, the ending saved this book's rating for me. I am pretty sure part of the purpose of this book was to encourage recycling and be an positive sustainability example, but I almost feel like the story line turned out to be the minor point of the book. All of the recycling and garbage talk was overpowering to the point of the story. I also do not know if it was just my ARC copy, but I struggled to follow the timeline of the book, because it hops back and forth, with no warning. One chapter you're reading about March, and another chapter you're back in the previous September, with no warning. Perhaps the final printed copy has more helpful chapter direction or information.


The conclusion was decent. The conflict was resolved, a tiny bit more insight into a cpuple of the characters... it really helped to shore up some of the questions I had.

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 5.6

Have you and your best friend ever had a fight? How would you feel if your best friend replaced you with another friend? What if things just fell apart and you don't really understand why? This is exactly what happened to Cora and Sybella. When Cora and her twin brother, Kyle, created an imaginary land, it was supposed to be their secret. But when Sybella overhears them, she joins in and their twosome changed to three. They are now going into fifth grade and Cora and Sybella are placed in different classes. This shouldn't be a problem until a new girl shows up and starts to put a wedge in their friendship. Then one day, they just quit being friends. Cora is a quiet soul so when she loses her best friend and then sees her with another friend, she just shuts down. Even Kyle can't get in. On top of everything else, her parents have gotten a divorce and her mom has taken a new job out of the country so she doesn't get to talk to her about all that is going on. When the girls each get a piece of the same diary, a diary from many, many years ago in which two best friends are torn apart because a new girl put a wedge between them, can they use this to help their friendship? Read this wonderful story about family, friendship, love, loss, and how to navigate friendship at such a difficult time in life.

I generally love Middle Grade, but this one just did not work for me. The trash topic is a bit heavy handed for me. Perhaps this is meant more for those that have an interest in scientific topics and research on a elementary level.

Great friendship story! Lots of rich pieces in this that would make it ideal for book groups or a classroom read aloud (around 4th-8th grade). The garbology pieces are also places where families or schools could get involved in recycling/sustainability/environmental issues. This book feels like something so much bigger than just something you read and then move on from - or it can be.

If you are looking for a friendship story that encourages readers to open up communication when friendship issues arise, this gives some great examples. There are outside factors that are also at play in this friendship fracture, but the story keeps the focus on the main characters and what they can/could do to repair their relationship.

Some readers may struggle to track some of the book's events. There are two main timelines - "before" and "now" - and two characters primarily telling the story. There is also a 40-year-old diary that becomes part of the story, and a couple scenes related to that are outside the perspective of Cora and Sybella. Reading this aloud in a classroom would help those students track the various threads of the story.

I found this book enjoyable and enlightening in regards to recycling. In being a substitute teacher, I have learned that fifth grade is a lot harder than I remember and The Friendship Lie shows that very well. More and more kids deal with situations that when I was younger were few and far between like parents splitting and one moving away and I am not talking about just across town. Kids worry more about the environment than ever before. They understand that we are depleting our natural resources and there is no way to recreate. They also start realizing that once what bound them to their best friend may not be something they like or enjoy anymore. They start coming into their own person.

Donnelly has done a good job in showing all the dynamics above between Cora and Sybella. The most important lesson taught in this book is that sometimes all it takes is a conversation to clear the air in a positive light but sometimes that conversation is the hardest thing of all to start.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Capstone, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

The Friendship Lie is Rebecca Donnelly’s debut middle grade novel. The story follows the friendship of Cora and Sybella, two 5th graders who (along with Kyle, Cora’s twin brother) created an elaborate fantasy world they named Aquafaba. They are incredibly committed to this world and the it grows and changes as their imaginations take flight. Cora and Kyle’s parents (who specialize in garbology at UC Berkeley) decide to separate and their mother moves to Belgium for short-term job, leaving Cora feeling extra sensitive. It’s right around this time that a talkative new girl named Marnie arrives at school, desperate to be included. But Cora and Sybella both give her the cold shoulder using secret code words and sneaky tactics to hide during lunch. However, there’s a miscommunication between Cora and Sybella that leave them both hurt, confused, and unable to seek resolution. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old diary turns up in a trash pile and reveals a past friendship-gone-wrong. Cora and Sybella both wonder what ever happened to that pained relationship from the diary since they see similarities to their current situation. Will their creative shared childhood spent in Aquafaba be enough to heal their pain and bridge the gap?

Outside of the friendship component, one fantastic part of this story was the focus on environmental science. We witness sincere dedication to reducing family waste AND the waste of all their neighbors. And I learned some interesting tidbits throughout this story (why have I never heard of biodegradable pasta straws??) all while considering some fun, educational activities to get children involved in reducing waste.

Maybe it’s the mama-of-five in me, but I felt badly for Marnie. Yes, she was annoying. And yes, her introduction to Aquafaba would have been a huge, frustrating disruption. But in the end, I hope middle grade readers take a moment to discuss how differently things might have gone if she hadn’t been ignored. It’s really not a bad idea to develop friendships with more than one person throughout your childhood.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and flew through it, anxious and hopeful to see resolution. Also… EVERYONE needs an Auntie Lake!! Read this one and tell me you don’t just love her! ❤ My sincere thanks to Capstone and NetGalley for approving this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book talked directly with my middle grade self inside my heart. Everything that Cora is feeling is something I expirienced when I was little and I really thing reading about it would have help me. I think a lot of children will benefit from reading a story about change, about guilt and misunderstandings when you are little, when everything sounds like a mountain you cannot climb and something that will change your life forever. There are some good quotes in here, that I have wrote down on my bullet journal to future selfhelp. I would love to visit Aquafaba tho, even at 26 years old.
I find it difficult to rate a book not for my age, so I will rate it with a star more of what I would have given it not knowing that I'm not the right audience.

Thank you to netgally and the publisher, for this title.

I love middle grade books, and read quite a few, every year. Unfortunately this one was so hard for me to get into. I also asked my nephew, who is 11, to read the first two chapters, and he was very confused since the author uses no quotation marks.

I hope to give this author another try, and am thankful to have received this copy.

I have really read way more than 2 books in July. It hasn't been my best month due to traveling to NY and then to Guatemala, but I have read books - just not blogged about them.
Cora's life revolves around garbage. Her mother and father - recently separated - are both scientists who deal with garbage, recycling, sustainability. So, of course, Cora and her twin brother are involved with the family passion. Her friendship with her brother Kyle and Sybella is not garbage - they have been inseparable and even have an imaginary kingdom. But when a meddlesome girl takes advantage of a misunderstanding Cora and Sybella's friendship is in jeopardy. Can they figure out a way to fix it?
This story is told through multiple viewpoints and jumps around chronologically. There is also a mysterious diary of another girl with friendship issues. It all comes together at the end but I am not sure how effective the style was or if it will cause issues with middle grade readers.

Friendships in 5th grade are complicated, as Cora is just starting to discover. This was supposed to be the best year for her, her twin brother, Kyle, and her best friend, Sybella, but things have gone terribly wrong. When a misunderstanding that neither Cora or Sybella fully understands comes between them, they're not sure how to find their way back to each other. Even the school's Trash Team Trashlympics and art project, which the friends had assumed they'd be doing together, couldn't help them overcome the gulf between them. Sometimes, best friends need a little bit of help, and perspective, to realize they're meant to be together.

I love how the author respects the difficulties of friendship at such a challenging age, and explores the wide range of emotions that the girls (and Kyle being stuck in the middle) experience. I also love the unseen forces at work to help that impact their relationship. Cora is a character that it might take a while to warm up to, but who is complex and tenderhearted.

This is the first time I've read a middle grade book with a strong focus on sustainability, and I really enjoyed learning about the steps that some people are taking to less wasteful and more environmentally conscious.

I'd definitely recommend this book, and have added it to my library's collection to share with patrons.

I started reading this child’s story book, but I lost patience with the book. There were no distinct chapters and the story although was about friends, it became a political concept about the harms of plastic to the environment.