Review To Come in mid July! Thank you to TBR and Beyond Book tours, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to be a part of this tour. This review will be updated in mid July.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

This book was a complete home run for me. Though there is a storyline about family, and working together to save the family bookstore, this book does a fantastic job capturing middle school friendships and some of the hardest parts of those friendships. I've loved Melanie Conklin's previous middle grade books, but this one is a great one to accompany Barbara Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You and Kate Messner's Chirp. All three tackle sexual harassment and abuse in very different but important ways. They draw hard lines for young readers, and do it in a way that feels empowering, even in the face of challenging peer relationships. This is a must read.

One of the best middle grade/young adult books I have ever read. Oh the simple truth, multiple voices sharing their personal experiences but NOT NORMALIZING the harassment? Yes. More of THIS! Friendships change. Boundaries become a thing. Growing spurts. Personality development. And ALL THE AWKWARD.
I loathe middle school - as a child, as a mother, I wish I could just fast forward. Survival is daily effort. Hormones. Friendships. Adjusting to a different school. Just all around no thank you.
Sophie and Eve have been friends forever. Eve wants something different - something Sophie cannot even understand. Why does it feel their friendship has ended? Something happened to Eve right around Thanksgiving - but she doesn't confide in Sophie. After an attempt at self-harm, Eve receives inpatient care. Her return to school secures her place in the Crash Crew - not her friendship with Sophie. What did Sophie do wrong? How will Sophie survive this loss?
Again so well done - family dynamics, parent involvement, school, anxiety. all over stress.

Being in 6th grade is just not fun for young women. I remember friends transitioning in middle school. But just like in dating, there are lots of fish in the sea and lots of new potential friends out there.

Crushed is a Children's Fiction book by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Sophie's family owns a bookstore, which adds to the charm of Crushed.

Crushed also touches on self-harm and anxiety.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author Melanie Conklin and publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Crushed in exchange for an honest review. Approx 240 pages. Publication date is July 16, 2024

A very timely book about growing up in the age of constant social media. For people that suffer from anxiety, like the young protagonist, pressure caused by intense scrutiny can be overwhelming. Luckily, she has a supportive family, and the encouragement from a new friend, to help her through some very rough spots in middle school.
(I have to say, I don’t think I would have survived my school years, had social media been around in those days!)

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Conklin weaves a compelling story with authentic middle grade characters while exploring heavy topics, like sexual harassment, social anxiety, herd mentality, and shifting friendships. The writing is fast-paced and never feels didactic. Also, there's a bookstore! Fantastic and important story!

Wow! A middle grade must read. It is hard to navigate middle school drama this book is a great depiction of a few issues students go through. Good for students to have a book they can relate to and learn from.

Sophie’s best friend Eve is now hanging out with the Crash Crew, and Sophie feels ignored. Eve tried to hurt herself and missed school for a while and Sophie doesn’t know why. When Sophie asks Eve are we still best friends Eve says she likes doing new things and hanging out with new people. When Sophie finds out that a dare from the Crash Crew is what caused Eve to hurt herself, Sophie wants to know more.. Does Sophie find out who’s responsible? What happens to Sophie and Eve’s friendship?