The Real Deal- Lindsey Stoddard
Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, that’s never been a question. Until now. Things still feel the same on the surface, they’re even making a comic about their friendship, but lately Oliver’s acting like he might be hiding something. Gabe can’t imagine what Oliver would be keeping from him; after all, they’ve known each other since preschool.
And then there’s Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesn’t talk—not ever. The other kids come up with mean ideas about why he’s silent and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isn’t right—but he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.
Through the character he and Oliver create in their comic adventure, the experience they have babysitting twin toddlers, and with the help of a trouble-making seventh grader who gets sent to their sixth-grade class, Gabe begins to find his voice and become the realest-deal version of his own self. But if he does that— can he still hold onto his best friend, too?
Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, that’s never been a question. Until now. Things still feel the same on the surface, they’re even making a comic about their friendship, but lately Oliver’s acting like he might be hiding something. Gabe can’t imagine what Oliver would be keeping from him; after all, they’ve known each other since preschool.
And then there’s Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesn’t talk—not ever. The other kids come up with mean ideas about why he’s silent and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isn’t right—but he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.
Through the character he and Oliver create in their comic adventure, the experience they have babysitting twin toddlers, and with the help of a trouble-making seventh grader who gets sent to their sixth-grade class, Gabe begins to find his voice and become the realest-deal version of his own self. But if he does that— can he still hold onto his best friend, too?
Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, that’s never been a question. Until now. Things still feel the same on the surface, they’re even making a comic about their friendship, but lately Oliver’s acting like he might be hiding something. Gabe can’t imagine what Oliver would be keeping from him; after all, they’ve known each other since preschool.
And then there’s Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesn’t talk—not ever. The other kids come up with mean ideas about why he’s silent and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isn’t right—but he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.
Through the character he and Oliver create in their comic adventure, the experience they have babysitting twin toddlers, and with the help of a trouble-making seventh grader who gets sent to their sixth-grade class, Gabe begins to find his voice and become the realest-deal version of his own self. But if he does that— can he still hold onto his best friend, too?