
A parent should reach for this book when their child is navigating a serious, seemingly unbreakable argument with a best friend or sibling. "Feuding" tells the story of Kelly and Jo, two inseparable friends whose relationship is torn apart when an old, forgotten feud between their families is reignited. The girls are forced to take sides, leading to escalating pranks and painful emotional distance. This book is a gentle but realistic look at how outside pressures can poison a friendship. For ages 8 to 12, it models the difficult but necessary steps of communication, understanding, and forgiveness needed to mend a broken bond.
The core topic is intense interpersonal conflict and the breakdown of a close friendship. The approach is direct and emotionally realistic for the age group. The story is secular. The resolution is hopeful, demonstrating that even deep-seated conflicts can be resolved through empathy, communication, and a willingness to forgive. It does not contain death, divorce, or other heavy themes.
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Sign in to write a reviewThis is for a child, ages 9-11, who is experiencing their first major, friendship-ending fight. It is particularly resonant for a child who feels caught in the middle of a conflict that is bigger than them, such as feuding families or warring cliques at school. It's for the child who is feeling hurt, angry, and confused about why a friendship has soured so dramatically.
This book can be read cold. The situations are very relatable to a middle-grade reader's experience. A parent might want to be prepared to discuss the idea of inherited beliefs and prejudices (like the family feud) and how to think for oneself. The pranks are mild and typical of the genre, so no specific scene prep is required. The parent has just witnessed their child have a huge fight with a friend or has learned their child is no longer speaking to their best friend. The child might say things like, "I hate her!" or "We are never, ever being friends again." The parent is looking for a way to help their child process these big feelings and see a path toward resolution.
A younger reader (8-9) will connect with the raw emotions of the fight: the unfairness, the sadness, and the anger. They will see the conflict in black and white terms. An older reader (10-12) will be better able to appreciate the nuances of the situation, such as the pressure of family loyalty and the courage it takes to be the first one to break a negative cycle.
While many books cover friendship problems, "Feuding" uses the unique framework of a historical, multi-generational family feud. This externalizes the conflict, making it a force the protagonists must battle together, even when they are fighting each other. This elevates it from a simple misunderstanding to a story about breaking cycles and choosing your own path.
Best friends Kelly and Jo find their world turned upside down when a school history project unearths a century-old feud between their families, the Hattons and the Medfords. Pushed by family pride and peer pressure, the girls go from inseparable allies to bitter rivals. Their conflict escalates through a series of retaliatory pranks and hurtful arguments that threaten to destroy their friendship for good. The story follows their emotional journey as they struggle to decide whether loyalty to family is more important than their bond, and if they can find a way to end the feud themselves.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.