Friendships and Backflips

Name: Friendships and Backflips
ISBN: 9781409531807

by Jane Lawes

For the child navigating new responsibilities and changing friendships, this story explores the tricky balance between passion and social life.

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About This Book

A parent might reach for this book when their child feels torn between a passion they love and their social life. It's perfect for the child who is starting to specialize in a sport or hobby and finding it conflicts with friend time. "Friendships and Backflips" tells the story of Tara, a dedicated gymnast starting secondary school. She struggles to balance her demanding training schedule with her friendships, especially when she must miss her best friend's birthday party. This gentle, relatable story explores loyalty, compromise, and the challenge of growing up. It's a great choice for kids 9-12 as it validates their big feelings and models healthy communication to solve problems.

Friendship & Loyalty Starting School Sports Friendship & Social Making Friends School Life Self-Confidence & Identity Growing Up

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesMild

Focuses on friendship conflict, hurt feelings, and feeling torn between priorities.

Sensitive Topics

The book's core conflict is social and emotional, focusing on friendship strain, feelings of jealousy, and the pressure of commitment. The approach is direct, realistic, and age-appropriate. There are no major sensitive topics like death or divorce. The resolution is hopeful and achieved through communication and mutual understanding, providing a positive model for readers.