That's What Friends Do
on Goodreads (391)
What’s inside...
Samantha Goldstein and David Fisher have been friends since their Little League baseball days. When a new kid, Luke, joins their group, the dynamics change and tensions rise. Luke's comments make Samantha uncomfortable, while David, blinded by his crush on Samantha, misreads the situation and makes a move on her. This leads to hurt feelings and confusion, leaving both Samantha and David to deal with the aftermath of their actions amidst swirling school rumors. In this heartfelt debut novel, both characters must navigate their emotions and learn valuable lessons about communication and respect.
Age
8-12
Length
352 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Sammie
Toby
David
Discussion points
How do you think Samantha felt when David didn't believe her side of the story?
What does friendship mean to you, and what qualities do you think make someone a good friend?
Why is it important to listen to others and understand their feelings?
How could David and Samantha have handled their misunderstanding differently?
What did you learn from the way the characters resolved their conflicts?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, allow your child to express their thoughts and feelings openly without interruption.
Encourage your child to relate the scenarios in the book to their own experiences with friends or school.
Ask your child to think about times when they had to make difficult decisions and relate those to the characters' decisions.
Emphasize the importance of empathy by asking how they would feel in each character’s situation.
Highlight the value of honesty and trust in friendships, just as it is portrayed in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding boundaries
Explanation: The book illustrates the importance of boundaries through interactions between the characters. As the story unfolds, characters learn to express and respect each other's personal boundaries.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to voice their own comfort levels in various situations and respecting others' boundaries as well. This helps in fostering healthy relationships.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: The characters in the story learn to understand and share the feelings of others. This is demonstrated when the characters face challenges and learn to see things from each other’s perspectives.
Real-World Application: This lesson is crucial in the real world as it teaches children to be considerate and supportive friends. Understanding different viewpoints can help in reducing conflicts and enhancing cooperation among peers.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: The story portrays strong friendships and highlights how friends support each other during tough times. The bond between the characters underscores the importance of having good friends.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to cherish and nourish their friendships. It teaches them that building trustworthy and supportive relationships is vital for personal growth and emotional support.
Example Lesson: Handling disagreements
Explanation: In the book, characters experience disagreements and conflicts. The resolution of these conflicts through communication and compromise shows the importance of resolving disputes peacefully.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to use effective communication to resolve conflicts with peers or siblings, promoting a peaceful and cooperative environment.
Example Lesson: Courage to face challenges
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters encounter various challenges and learn to handle them with courage. This is highlighted through their actions and decisions in difficult situations.
Real-World Application: This lesson serves as a motivation for children to face their own challenges bravely, whether it's trying new activities or standing up for what is right.