What do you think?
Rate this book
Friction
Most well-known for her devastatingly poignant teen tales of urban desperation and redemption, renowned young adult author E. R. Frank switches gears and narrows her focus to the pivotal events of one 8th grade classroom.
The progressive petri dish of Forest Alternative's middle school is stirred the wrong way when sophisticated, tongue-ringed Stacy makes the scene. Almost immediately, Stacy takes advantage of the school's relaxed and experimental atmosphere to start a little excitement.
For reasons known only to herself, she begins to insinuate that Simon, the 8th grade's idealistic, good-looking young teacher, is in love with Alex, Friction's mild mannered first person narrator. Embarrassed and infuriated, Alex tries to squelch the gossip, but only manages to make herself look more guilty to her classmates. When she finally confronts Stacy, Alex is horrified when Stacy tearfully admits that the reason she's been spreading the rumors is to draw attention away from the fact that Simon is actually molesting her. Confused and half caught up in Stacy's stories herself, Alex makes the mistake of trusting her shifting feelings instead of what she knows to be true, irreparably harming her admired teacher in the process.
Friction is a provocative, deadly accurate portrayal of puberty, in all its manipulative, perplexing, unmanageable glory. Alex's quest to discover the definition of truth is a journey every teenager makes, and teen readers of Friction will take great comfort in the fact that a trusted author, who clearly hasn't forgotten adolescence herself, is helping to chart the path. (Ages 12 to 15)
The progressive petri dish of Forest Alternative's middle school is stirred the wrong way when sophisticated, tongue-ringed Stacy makes the scene. Almost immediately, Stacy takes advantage of the school's relaxed and experimental atmosphere to start a little excitement.
For reasons known only to herself, she begins to insinuate that Simon, the 8th grade's idealistic, good-looking young teacher, is in love with Alex, Friction's mild mannered first person narrator. Embarrassed and infuriated, Alex tries to squelch the gossip, but only manages to make herself look more guilty to her classmates. When she finally confronts Stacy, Alex is horrified when Stacy tearfully admits that the reason she's been spreading the rumors is to draw attention away from the fact that Simon is actually molesting her. Confused and half caught up in Stacy's stories herself, Alex makes the mistake of trusting her shifting feelings instead of what she knows to be true, irreparably harming her admired teacher in the process.
Friction is a provocative, deadly accurate portrayal of puberty, in all its manipulative, perplexing, unmanageable glory. Alex's quest to discover the definition of truth is a journey every teenager makes, and teen readers of Friction will take great comfort in the fact that a trusted author, who clearly hasn't forgotten adolescence herself, is helping to chart the path. (Ages 12 to 15)
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
20 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
E.R. Frank
8 books90 followersE. R. Frank is the author of two highly praised novels for Atheneum: America and Friction. Her first novel was Life Is Funny, winner of the Teen People Book Club NEXT Award for YA Fiction and was also a top-ten ALA 2001 Quick Pick.
In addition to being writer, E. R. Frank is also a clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She works with adults and adolescents and specializes in trauma.
In addition to being writer, E. R. Frank is also a clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She works with adults and adolescents and specializes in trauma.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 1, 2021
***SPOILERS***
1. I'm a librarian and at our library this book is in the juvenile section (around ages 8-14.) I know these kids are 12 years old, but I'm considering moving this book to the young adult section because of the content. Having said that, this book is important and should definitely be in the library. Kids need to know about this sort of thing but I would like for them to ask me and I can show them rather then accidentally stumbling upon a book that's out of their maturity range. (I'm especially thinking of my ten year old niece who reads from the juvenile section.)
2. Staceys are real people. There was a girl I knew in high school that told everyone she got a hysterectomy, but the next week she told everyone he was pregnant. She also said her dad lived next to the rapper Nelly. She was the type of person that you knew was full of crap, but you never knew exactly where the lies started and ended.
3. This subject also hits home for me because my husband is a young middle school teacher and the girls could do or say anything to get in this position and it shows how careful teachers have to be.
4. It's sad that it had to end with Simon leaving but Alex being confused is a very real emotion, especially given the circumstances (however odd or unrealistic they may have been. Camping trips and McDonald's runs? Far fetched, but still.)
5. What the heck kind of school were they at? Definitely a lawsuit waiting to happen. If it wasn't this situation it would have probably happened anyway.
6. Please, God, let Stacey's dad get caught. She was an obnoxious liar who I wanted to punch in the face, but I really hope she's ok.
7. I like that instead of "says" the author used "goes." It sounded more true to a 12 year old voice.
8. Tim and Alex get married. The end.
1. I'm a librarian and at our library this book is in the juvenile section (around ages 8-14.) I know these kids are 12 years old, but I'm considering moving this book to the young adult section because of the content. Having said that, this book is important and should definitely be in the library. Kids need to know about this sort of thing but I would like for them to ask me and I can show them rather then accidentally stumbling upon a book that's out of their maturity range. (I'm especially thinking of my ten year old niece who reads from the juvenile section.)
2. Staceys are real people. There was a girl I knew in high school that told everyone she got a hysterectomy, but the next week she told everyone he was pregnant. She also said her dad lived next to the rapper Nelly. She was the type of person that you knew was full of crap, but you never knew exactly where the lies started and ended.
3. This subject also hits home for me because my husband is a young middle school teacher and the girls could do or say anything to get in this position and it shows how careful teachers have to be.
4. It's sad that it had to end with Simon leaving but Alex being confused is a very real emotion, especially given the circumstances (however odd or unrealistic they may have been. Camping trips and McDonald's runs? Far fetched, but still.)
5. What the heck kind of school were they at? Definitely a lawsuit waiting to happen. If it wasn't this situation it would have probably happened anyway.
6. Please, God, let Stacey's dad get caught. She was an obnoxious liar who I wanted to punch in the face, but I really hope she's ok.
7. I like that instead of "says" the author used "goes." It sounded more true to a 12 year old voice.
8. Tim and Alex get married. The end.
September 27, 2025
Re-reading something I read 13 years ago is quite surreal. I was shocked that this held up even after all these years. It's such a gutsy book. It's a shame that it didn't get that much exposure. The author does such an excellent job at conveying very complex adolescent emotions even in rather simple prose. I do have critiques about the writing and the pacing, but it distracted me little given that I enjoyed the story so much. I've read criticisms on here regarding the juvenile behaviour of the characters, how these 12/13-year olds don't act as they would at that age, but they fail to recognise that these kids are at a small alternative school. I feel that the author did a good job of portraying the sheltered and curious behaviour of kids spending their adolescent years in that kind of environment.
Overall, it's such a daring and sad book. Even after all these years, I still felt the bittersweetness of it, the depiction of the end of childhood. When I was between the ages of 11 and 13, having a very turbulent childhood, I sought out books that handled abuse as a source of needed empathy. Rereading these words and seeing these images that adolescent me read so long ago restored that sense of empathy. A book like this was a blessing to a lonely, distraught 11 year-old.
Overall, it's such a daring and sad book. Even after all these years, I still felt the bittersweetness of it, the depiction of the end of childhood. When I was between the ages of 11 and 13, having a very turbulent childhood, I sought out books that handled abuse as a source of needed empathy. Rereading these words and seeing these images that adolescent me read so long ago restored that sense of empathy. A book like this was a blessing to a lonely, distraught 11 year-old.
April 14, 2009
"Friction" is about twelve year old Alexander (Alex) who attends an urban private school that only has one teacher - Simon. Everyone is doing well until the new girl Stacey comes in and starts spreading rumours about Alex... and Simon.
I really didn't like this book, but I just can't bring myself to give it one star. Mostly because the ending actually wasn't too horrible. It's just that the characters, the plot, everything was wrong. I know how a thirteen year old should act, and the author was portraying it all wrong. The dialogue, the emotions, it was just off. I can't describe how stupid I felt reading this book, like - do adults really think we act like this? Because we don't.
I really didn't like this book, but I just can't bring myself to give it one star. Mostly because the ending actually wasn't too horrible. It's just that the characters, the plot, everything was wrong. I know how a thirteen year old should act, and the author was portraying it all wrong. The dialogue, the emotions, it was just off. I can't describe how stupid I felt reading this book, like - do adults really think we act like this? Because we don't.
January 26, 2011
The book "Friction" by E.R. Frank is about Alex, a 12-year-old girl. She goes to an "Alternative" middle school and is the only girl on the school soccer team. Everything is going right until the new girl, Stacy arrives. Stacy becomes friends with Alex. Stacy is a trouble maker and spreads dirty rumors. She says that their teacher, Simon, "likes" Alex and that she likes him back. She makes people in their class believe her, even Tim, Alex's best friend.
This book was good. However, the ending wasn't that great. The ending could have been better if the author talked about what happened to Stacy. Besides that, the book was filled with details. It was descriptive. I think people whose interested in books about teen drama would like this.
This book was good. However, the ending wasn't that great. The ending could have been better if the author talked about what happened to Stacy. Besides that, the book was filled with details. It was descriptive. I think people whose interested in books about teen drama would like this.
September 15, 2025
Disgusted by the way the author left it as it was, the teacher got away with touching underage girls and the main character APOLOGIZES?? ew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2012
An amazingly well written book. I got it from my school library and I read it in less than a week. I'm a really slow reader too and when I really can't keep my eyes from a book, you know that it's good. Some language and adult content is in the book but, it adds to the story quite well. The book is about this new girl named Stacy comes in and starts spreading vicious rumors about the main character, Alex. Stacy is saying that Alex's teacher Simon has feelings for Alex. The class is on a camping trip and there is a storm so, Simon comes into the kids tent and squishes between Alex and the tent wall. Stacy also lies and says that he liked Alex in an inappropriate way. The book get more interesting when their gang (Alex, Tim, Sebastian, Marie and a few other friends) are down at the creek and Stacy is running and she trips and breaks her arm. Simon carries her back up to the school and takes her into the office. She loses a lot of blood and has to go to the hospital. When Stacy gets back she says that Simon molested her and she reported it to the police. Alex knows that Simon would never do something like that and speaks to the detective. Right before Stacy and Simon go to trial, Stacy's family moves at the last minute. Stacy makes up a lie and says it's because that her father doesn't like the town anymore. Alex has to write a letter to Simon because she was too confused to let the detective know that Simon was innocent. There was no evidence to prove Simon guilty so his punishment is only an ankle tracker. Alex says that it is too painful to go to school there anymore so she transfer to a different school and it is also because Tim, Alex's best friend is transferring to an all boy's school and she can't go with him. I loved this book and I recommend that you read it. Thanks for reading!!!
September 28, 2007
I realize that sometimes my "children" bookshelf is a bit misleading. For the most part, I actually mean young adults. I think you can deal.
I couldn't decide if I liked this or not. I think it was well-written, and I liked that the author resisted a neat and happy ending. The narrator, Alex, was a character I related to, even as an adult. My major problem with the book was that I just could not stand Stacy. She's one of those characters that are meant to come in a stir stuff up. I get this. However, I found her so obnoxious and frustrating (sort of like the best friend in Born Confused that it really kept me from liking Friction completely. I will say this, though: the author does a wonderful job of teaching the lesson that words matter, that they can be powerful and destroying, and must be carefully kept.
I would certainly recommend this to mature teen readers, but teachers, if you have touchy parents, get approval first. This one is fairly brutal.
I couldn't decide if I liked this or not. I think it was well-written, and I liked that the author resisted a neat and happy ending. The narrator, Alex, was a character I related to, even as an adult. My major problem with the book was that I just could not stand Stacy. She's one of those characters that are meant to come in a stir stuff up. I get this. However, I found her so obnoxious and frustrating (sort of like the best friend in Born Confused that it really kept me from liking Friction completely. I will say this, though: the author does a wonderful job of teaching the lesson that words matter, that they can be powerful and destroying, and must be carefully kept.
I would certainly recommend this to mature teen readers, but teachers, if you have touchy parents, get approval first. This one is fairly brutal.
December 19, 2016
Friction by E.R. Frank is a three out of five star book; I enjoyed the plot line and character development, but didn’t think that the book was as well written as it could’ve been.
I wanted an easy page turner that I could pick up before bed and read a chapter or two before I got too tired to keep reading. I have to say this book wasn’t that. It was an easy read with an interesting plot, but the fact that it was told from the perspective of a 12 year old made it too simple, and often plain. I understand that the author was going for that type of writing, but that just isn’t what I was looking for. Apart from being a simple read, I enjoyed the plot and was able to get sucked into the story. I laughed at the funny scenes and cringed during the awkward moments that appeared often. The author did a nice job at evoking certain emotions, and creating a setting that you could put yourself in. I gave this book 3 stars because I was able to read and enjoy it, but it was too simply written for my taste. If you like stories that follow an unoriginal exposition, rising action, climax story arc, then this is the book for you.
I wanted an easy page turner that I could pick up before bed and read a chapter or two before I got too tired to keep reading. I have to say this book wasn’t that. It was an easy read with an interesting plot, but the fact that it was told from the perspective of a 12 year old made it too simple, and often plain. I understand that the author was going for that type of writing, but that just isn’t what I was looking for. Apart from being a simple read, I enjoyed the plot and was able to get sucked into the story. I laughed at the funny scenes and cringed during the awkward moments that appeared often. The author did a nice job at evoking certain emotions, and creating a setting that you could put yourself in. I gave this book 3 stars because I was able to read and enjoy it, but it was too simply written for my taste. If you like stories that follow an unoriginal exposition, rising action, climax story arc, then this is the book for you.
April 26, 2015
If I had to read "go" or "goes" one more time, I was going to lose it. I didn't connect with any of the characters. The parents were completely inept. Too many issues raised but barely dealt with or resolved (except for the weird scene with the therapists. What was that? Like a speech parents have with small children. Why did the school seem to not notify parents about this till after the first session?). Simon was the stupidest teacher character I've read in a long time. Could he have made any more poor choices? The principal was also ludicrously irresponsible. The school was also completely bizarre--how do you not react when students just leave? This could've been an important book. Instead, it's as poorly handled as the entire fictional situation.
November 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book because it shows a HUGE misunderstanding and it also shows ho bad child sexual abuse can be. I felt bad for everyone in that book except for Stacy's dad. That is so messed up? Why didn't she tell her mom? Her dad, sorry if I offened you by saying this, a JERK. Stacy must of been terrified, horrified, and, maybe, embarrassed. Alex, unfourtunately, has to deal with the hurt of Satcy lying.(Her favorite teacher left.) This book, I beleive, will tell teens and older kids, tell an adult. Even if your 21, you shouldn't let a grown man/woman touch you like that, nor anyone of any age. Tell an adult before things get bad!!! I really enjoyed this book.
April 25, 2016
This book was totally stupid. No freaking happy ending. They're trying to have me believe that in a full class of private school students not one of the kids is one who tells their parents everything that happens to them during the day and who said what? I don't know it made me angry. Not an enjoyable book at all and not even one that teaches you a lesson or anything to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2022
Reading this is an exercise in frustration. This is an important topic to write about, but I finished reading feeling hollow and wondering exactly what the point of all that was.
September 27, 2025
Checking the spoiler cut both because of actual spoilers and because I'm going to be mean and unsympathetic to fictional children and probably curse at them; proceed at your own risk.
-------
Despite knowing how it was going to play out before I began (dear god, this Goodreads description is a parental-guide-style synopsis!), it was somehow even more of a gut punch because the teacher, Simon, is the absolute dream of a Cool Teacher and general sweetheart, with unlimited passion for his chosen profession.
(And yes, he's "Simon" and not Mr. ____, because one of the things that allows this story to unfold is the unusual design of the private school, "Forest Alternative," in which not only is the curriculum more flexible, the junior high continues to have just 1 main teacher, like in elementary school.)
His only real crime is being too liberal with tactile affection, not thinking twice before squeezing a student's shoulder or offering hugs, in exactly the way teachers are now expressly forbidden from doing for liability reasons. And which are exactly my catnip.
(OK, and he's also sort of bad with boundaries in general. Like thinking it's normal to both drive your student to pick up a classroom food order, and stop to handsily make out with your girlfriend in the car while she's picking it up inside, or climbing into your students' tent in the middle of the night when yours collapses/tears. The fact that he ends up falling asleep at least partially in contact with Alex is a special bonus joy for me though. NOT IN A SHIPPING WAY, not least on account of she's a literal 12-year-old child and that's not what I'm about. I am just always down for everyone to platonically cuddle always.)
(I can't even talk about his simultaneously inappropriate/hero move of ripping off his shirt to staunch Stacy's bleeding, before picking her up and running her inside to get help.)
For those reasons alone, this book could be a new favorite for my student/teacher relationships shelf - something I would tag it as even though nothing untoward happens, since the best part of the books on that shelf always IS before anything happens. I just adored the easy bond he and Alex had. I don't know if you can accurately say she's his absolute favorite student, since he's so engaged with everyone, but she's certainly one of them, and she adores him in turn. Not in a crush way, at least until Stacy starts whispering in her ear and messing with her mind enough to wonder, but in just the admiring way a student should. It's the level of innocence shown in Not Just a Summer Crush.
Unfortunately, as great as Simon is, this book is also about Stacy being a stupid malicious monster bitch (thank u fictional character Amelia Shepherd for the consistently-useful phrasing), and it is absolute torture and agony every time she speaks. It is also torture and agony every time the almost-13-year-old Alex gets all confused and muddled and keeps blurting out the most damning out-of-context evidence with which to fan the flames at every opportunity. Why does she have no filter. I understand that accidentally getting a full-frontal view of your teacher using a camp latrine is a traumatizing event (including for the reader, who did not need descriptive details), but why would you immediately tell your gossipy classmates??
(Simon IS quickly cleared of any wrongdoing -- not least because Samantha's evil molester dad hustles his family out of town overnight with no forwarding address -- and Simon isn't even fired, but he leaves the school anyway on account of HIS ENTIRE GODDAMN CLASS (whom he was supposed to continue teaching next year) betraying him with silence and suspicion. Little monsters.
I especially hope Tim the jealous bitch-baby feels bad for the rest of his life, for the way he treated both Simon and Alex.)
------------
Anyway. The ending is not the worst thing that could happen but it's still a sour-feeling bummer. I can only hope this book helps some kids recognize that when your parents say say dumb things like "You're really angry with Stacy right now, but it's important to be fair to people. To give them second chances," you can say "no, actually, I recognize a freak who should be drummed out of the social circle immediately when I see one." And/or, since this is almost 20 years old, at least not pass those outdated lessons on to their own kids.
-------
Despite knowing how it was going to play out before I began (dear god, this Goodreads description is a parental-guide-style synopsis!), it was somehow even more of a gut punch because the teacher, Simon, is the absolute dream of a Cool Teacher and general sweetheart, with unlimited passion for his chosen profession.
(And yes, he's "Simon" and not Mr. ____, because one of the things that allows this story to unfold is the unusual design of the private school, "Forest Alternative," in which not only is the curriculum more flexible, the junior high continues to have just 1 main teacher, like in elementary school.)
His only real crime is being too liberal with tactile affection, not thinking twice before squeezing a student's shoulder or offering hugs, in exactly the way teachers are now expressly forbidden from doing for liability reasons. And which are exactly my catnip.
(OK, and he's also sort of bad with boundaries in general. Like thinking it's normal to both drive your student to pick up a classroom food order, and stop to handsily make out with your girlfriend in the car while she's picking it up inside, or climbing into your students' tent in the middle of the night when yours collapses/tears. The fact that he ends up falling asleep at least partially in contact with Alex is a special bonus joy for me though. NOT IN A SHIPPING WAY, not least on account of she's a literal 12-year-old child and that's not what I'm about. I am just always down for everyone to platonically cuddle always.)
(I can't even talk about his simultaneously inappropriate/hero move of ripping off his shirt to staunch Stacy's bleeding, before picking her up and running her inside to get help.)
For those reasons alone, this book could be a new favorite for my student/teacher relationships shelf - something I would tag it as even though nothing untoward happens, since the best part of the books on that shelf always IS before anything happens. I just adored the easy bond he and Alex had. I don't know if you can accurately say she's his absolute favorite student, since he's so engaged with everyone, but she's certainly one of them, and she adores him in turn. Not in a crush way, at least until Stacy starts whispering in her ear and messing with her mind enough to wonder, but in just the admiring way a student should. It's the level of innocence shown in Not Just a Summer Crush.
Unfortunately, as great as Simon is, this book is also about Stacy being a stupid malicious monster bitch (thank u fictional character Amelia Shepherd for the consistently-useful phrasing), and it is absolute torture and agony every time she speaks. It is also torture and agony every time the almost-13-year-old Alex gets all confused and muddled and keeps blurting out the most damning out-of-context evidence with which to fan the flames at every opportunity. Why does she have no filter. I understand that accidentally getting a full-frontal view of your teacher using a camp latrine is a traumatizing event (including for the reader, who did not need descriptive details), but why would you immediately tell your gossipy classmates??
(Simon IS quickly cleared of any wrongdoing -- not least because Samantha's evil molester dad hustles his family out of town overnight with no forwarding address -- and Simon isn't even fired, but he leaves the school anyway on account of HIS ENTIRE GODDAMN CLASS (whom he was supposed to continue teaching next year) betraying him with silence and suspicion. Little monsters.
I especially hope Tim the jealous bitch-baby feels bad for the rest of his life, for the way he treated both Simon and Alex.)
------------
Anyway. The ending is not the worst thing that could happen but it's still a sour-feeling bummer. I can only hope this book helps some kids recognize that when your parents say say dumb things like "You're really angry with Stacy right now, but it's important to be fair to people. To give them second chances," you can say "no, actually, I recognize a freak who should be drummed out of the social circle immediately when I see one." And/or, since this is almost 20 years old, at least not pass those outdated lessons on to their own kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
I read this book as a kid and it stuck with me because I went through a situation that was very similar to what was happening in the plot. I think the book did a very good job showing how confusing these situations can be for young children.
But reading this again as an adult, I definitely have more criticism about Simon (the teacher). There were things in this book that I think could be a dangerous message to young readers.
Spoilers ahead.
But reading this again as an adult, I definitely have more criticism about Simon (the teacher). There were things in this book that I think could be a dangerous message to young readers.
Spoilers ahead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2020
If "Alyssa Lies" by Jason Michael Carroll was a book.
This is a quick read, I read it in one night. I thought this was a brave write. I don't think I've ever read a book like this. A book where a child is trying to figure out whether her and her teacher's relationship is wrong. Alex is a twelve year old girl, her best friend is named Tim and her favorite teacher is named Simon. Enter the new girl, Stacy who puts their lives in a blender. I think Frank worded some interactions between Alex and Simon to make us wonder if they were innocent interactions or not, she wanted us to doubt him as well, which I think is clever. However, it did leave me a bit disappointed at the end that there were no real mind games.
I think I hated every single adult in this novel. Both Alex's parents are in the medical field. I think her father is a therapist or psychologist, or they both are. They handled this situation so poorly and knowing that this novel is written by a social worker and psychotherapist, I wonder if she wrote them purposely stupid, like if these were based on parents she had dealt with or she agreed with some of the behavior of the adults. Anyway, her parents push her into this extremely toxic friendship with Stacy, even though Stacy told Alex that her father was dead, pulled her hair, and constantly manipulates everyone around her. It makes sense in the end why Stacy acts this way, but not why the parents are beyond stupid. In the end they keep forcing Alex to write her letter almost as a punishment, when she was so confused and conflicted about the whole thing. They never cared how she felt, just how she had made others feel. Both her parents and Simon tell her that there is some amount of truth in the lies of others. And then they got pissed off when Alex, a child, gets confused and panicked by the platitude.
I thought there were a few unrealistic aspects to this novel, that really pulled you out of the believability. Like a 14-year old having a "tongue ring"; the unrealistic school these children go to that lets them rappel on school property and then venture into the forest during recess, granted someone's parent and the principal make a comment about how outdated the teaching is and possibly in violation of safety and schooling codes; the whole soccer thing, like they don't have a field, or a coach, or real practices and then they go play a team that has all of that and win? And finally Simon is a scummy little person. He takes Alex to go get food for the class and then ends up in a car making out with his much younger girlfriend instead of looking after his young student, and then his temper with Alex at the end. Frank really wanted us to believe he was bad.
This is a quick read, I read it in one night. I thought this was a brave write. I don't think I've ever read a book like this. A book where a child is trying to figure out whether her and her teacher's relationship is wrong. Alex is a twelve year old girl, her best friend is named Tim and her favorite teacher is named Simon. Enter the new girl, Stacy who puts their lives in a blender. I think Frank worded some interactions between Alex and Simon to make us wonder if they were innocent interactions or not, she wanted us to doubt him as well, which I think is clever. However, it did leave me a bit disappointed at the end that there were no real mind games.
I think I hated every single adult in this novel. Both Alex's parents are in the medical field. I think her father is a therapist or psychologist, or they both are. They handled this situation so poorly and knowing that this novel is written by a social worker and psychotherapist, I wonder if she wrote them purposely stupid, like if these were based on parents she had dealt with or she agreed with some of the behavior of the adults. Anyway, her parents push her into this extremely toxic friendship with Stacy, even though Stacy told Alex that her father was dead, pulled her hair, and constantly manipulates everyone around her. It makes sense in the end why Stacy acts this way, but not why the parents are beyond stupid. In the end they keep forcing Alex to write her letter almost as a punishment, when she was so confused and conflicted about the whole thing. They never cared how she felt, just how she had made others feel. Both her parents and Simon tell her that there is some amount of truth in the lies of others. And then they got pissed off when Alex, a child, gets confused and panicked by the platitude.
I thought there were a few unrealistic aspects to this novel, that really pulled you out of the believability. Like a 14-year old having a "tongue ring"; the unrealistic school these children go to that lets them rappel on school property and then venture into the forest during recess, granted someone's parent and the principal make a comment about how outdated the teaching is and possibly in violation of safety and schooling codes; the whole soccer thing, like they don't have a field, or a coach, or real practices and then they go play a team that has all of that and win? And finally Simon is a scummy little person. He takes Alex to go get food for the class and then ends up in a car making out with his much younger girlfriend instead of looking after his young student, and then his temper with Alex at the end. Frank really wanted us to believe he was bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
It doesn't take much to make me cry.
That's the truth.
But I'm not crying right now. No, I'm lowkey bawling.
The story E.R. Frank tells is an incredibly simple one. It's just your average 13-year old girl in a strange little school with a particularly odd teacher. But the way the author develops characters makes you feel for them in a way that, well, leaves you like me, half sobbing, at the end of the book as you realize that not everyone gets their own happily-ever-after. And that's not something you'd expect, reading the first half of the book.
The writing style of this work was satisfactory at best. It was written from the point of view of a 13-year old, and what more can you really expect from that approach to such a work? In a way, though, the innocence of our protagonist plays an immense role in the actual work. Readers are forced to analyze every moment of interaction through the eyes of an emotionally biased child, and end up having to come to their own conclusions on which characters are...well...which characters are good, and which are bad.
It's that specific simplicity that E.R. Frank brings to this novel which makes it so heartbreaking. We literally watch one person's life crumble and fall whilst another is equipped to take on the world, ready for a new beginning. We readers are forced to watch our protagonist make decisions we don't side with at all, and are forced to directly observe the effects of what happens when a girl too innocent for her own good misunderstands the truth.
This innocence is what makes the content of this work so hard-hitting. You don't expect it. At all. See, this work combines two worlds that do not and should not ever belong together. Ever. Children and molestation. Rather, the many untied trails of this story force readers to accept the harsh cruelty of reality and the fact that life is NOT a storybook, that not everyone will get their fairytale ending; and it's all under the pretense of a reasonably innocent novela. But this work is not a light read in any way. From a literary angle, perhaps so—the literature is far from extraordinary—but the ideas addressed in this book hit me hard.
And I was not ready for it.
~Read with caution, but read it.
That's the truth.
But I'm not crying right now. No, I'm lowkey bawling.
The story E.R. Frank tells is an incredibly simple one. It's just your average 13-year old girl in a strange little school with a particularly odd teacher. But the way the author develops characters makes you feel for them in a way that, well, leaves you like me, half sobbing, at the end of the book as you realize that not everyone gets their own happily-ever-after. And that's not something you'd expect, reading the first half of the book.
The writing style of this work was satisfactory at best. It was written from the point of view of a 13-year old, and what more can you really expect from that approach to such a work? In a way, though, the innocence of our protagonist plays an immense role in the actual work. Readers are forced to analyze every moment of interaction through the eyes of an emotionally biased child, and end up having to come to their own conclusions on which characters are...well...which characters are good, and which are bad.
It's that specific simplicity that E.R. Frank brings to this novel which makes it so heartbreaking. We literally watch one person's life crumble and fall whilst another is equipped to take on the world, ready for a new beginning. We readers are forced to watch our protagonist make decisions we don't side with at all, and are forced to directly observe the effects of what happens when a girl too innocent for her own good misunderstands the truth.
This innocence is what makes the content of this work so hard-hitting. You don't expect it. At all. See, this work combines two worlds that do not and should not ever belong together. Ever. Children and molestation. Rather, the many untied trails of this story force readers to accept the harsh cruelty of reality and the fact that life is NOT a storybook, that not everyone will get their fairytale ending; and it's all under the pretense of a reasonably innocent novela. But this work is not a light read in any way. From a literary angle, perhaps so—the literature is far from extraordinary—but the ideas addressed in this book hit me hard.
And I was not ready for it.
~Read with caution, but read it.
April 24, 2024
After reading other comments on this book, I am thoroughly impressed with the lack of understanding of what this type of material can do to a young mind, and a seeming reader detachment from the importance of high morals which need to be taught to youth. A new girl in an alternative Jr. high school (ages 11-14) has serious problems at home and is an habitual liar. She confuses other students, incites contention between longtime friends, and spreads false, damning, malicious gossip and accusations about innocent people. The setting is contrived and unrealistic. Having taught and served in county schools and charter schools I do not believe there are any schools in America which exhibit this kind of scenario. The content is not one I can approve of for any adolescents. This book sets a very bad example to young readers. The topic and content of this book are a matter which should be reserved to ADULT crime novels. This book should be removed from all grade schools, junior high schools and high schools. It has no academic value whatsoever. Though it seems to be punctuated properly, it is poorly written and poorly thought out, with no other redeeming factors. We are what we think. Our brains are programmed by what we experience, by what we watch, see and read. Reading this kind of literature leads our thoughts to decadent, negative results: "Garbage in, Garbage out." We cannot expect our adolescent youth not to be negatively affected by this type of suggestive, sexually oriented, vulgar literature. If we are to have a moral society, which John Adams stated we need, this book and others like it do NOT belong on any school library shelves.
October 12, 2025
This book sucked and made me really mad for the main character. The teacher clearly has a wildly unprofessional and sexual relationship with her like taking her on car rides, hugging her, sleeping in the same tent, touching her thigh, revealing details of his personal life, having her witness him making out with his girlfriend, etc. But she’s somehow framed as the aggressor and has to apologize to a guy who was borderline grooming her and seemed to be acclimating her to eventually doing sexual things with him by touching her and exposing her to sexual acts. This poor girl would have serious emotional problems if she were real by being blamed for ruining a teachers life when at worst he’s a pedophile and at best he should never ever ever have another job around children.
What kind of lesson are kids even supposed to take from this novel? Teachers can touch you? Maybe it’s just the age of the novel I guess. Because the emotional damage he inflicted on this 12 year old girl was almost as bad as just outright molesting her.
What kind of lesson are kids even supposed to take from this novel? Teachers can touch you? Maybe it’s just the age of the novel I guess. Because the emotional damage he inflicted on this 12 year old girl was almost as bad as just outright molesting her.
August 31, 2024
This book gave me so many mixed emotions. I’m a girl who loves horror, crime shows, all that. So something not even too graphic shouldn’t really bother me. But it did. Stacy’s character made me so uncomfortable, which is what was intended. It worked so well I considered not finishing it. But I did, and I’m glad I did. I predicted the ending, it was quite obvious, and just because it made me uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not a good book. I actually think the author is incredible, how they were able to make the reader so uncomfortable. If you can handle some difficult content, it’s a good read!
July 31, 2017
Teen fiction is definitely not my cup of tea. However, this book delivered a very important message...
facts don't always coincide with the truth. Your heart knows the truth and you should believe in the truth that echoes inside you, no matter what.
facts don't always coincide with the truth. Your heart knows the truth and you should believe in the truth that echoes inside you, no matter what.
February 5, 2018
This was good. I was mostly reading it to be sure it wasn’t too graphic, like America, which was great but not defensible in our library.
It’s about a confused, abused girl who lies about a teacher touching her, and Alex who knows it isn’t true.
It’s about a confused, abused girl who lies about a teacher touching her, and Alex who knows it isn’t true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2025
Friction is a raw and honest look at teenage friendships, pressure, and how quickly life can shift with one misunderstanding. E.R. Frank captures the emotions of middle school so well . it felt real, relatable, and hard to put down.
February 24, 2017
this book is really good and has a lot of curies stuff. it is really good and is full of life
June 3, 2017
Review to come
March 13, 2022
Fast read but not very believable.
July 25, 2022
This is a book that should be in all elementary/middle schools library
July 10, 2023
What I learned from this book is that lies are bad.
May 10, 2015
I liked this book better than I thought I would, but not really because it was entertaining. It was not particularly exciting, but it raised serious questions and portrayed certain issues from a different angle than they're usually portrayed.
Alexandra is a well-off, wel-behaved eighth-grader in a tiny, alternative classroom for other well-off, well-behaved kids. They're taught by Simon, a young, "cool" teacher whom they all admire and like. The students seem very insulated and sheltered in their little classroom until Stacy arrives.
Stacy is worldly, charismatic and manipulative. She's much more socially aware than the other kids, and she's smart enough to realize this and use it to her own advantage. Almost right away, Stacy begins planting seeds of distrust and suspicion among Alex and her friends. She insinuates that Simon is attracted to Alex, and Alex, who may or may not already have a little crush on Simon, begins wondering if it's true, and also starts to worry. Stacy's lies drive a wedge in between Alex and her best friend Tim, whom Stacy seems to like better than anyone else in the class.
The situation escalates to the point where Alex is actually afraid of Simon, even though she has known him for years and he has never done anything before to make her uncomfortable. Alex is confused and depressed and feels her parents are too busy to really listen to what she has to say.
It all comes to a head when Stacy is badly hurt in a rappelling accident on a school outing and at the hospital it's discovered that she has been sexually abused. Stacy points the finger at Simon, and though he is quickly cleared of official suspicion, (which promptly falls on Stacy's father) Simon feels betrayed and as if he can no longer trust the students he cared so much about. He particularly blames Alex because she should have known that what Stacy said about him was not true, yet she didn't tell anyone about it, and just continued to believe Stacy. Simon leaves his job without really even saying goodbye to his students.
When Alex confronts Stacy about her lies, Stacy shrugs them off with "Nobody believes you when you do tell the truth." This is where the story begins to fall flat. That sounds like something Stacy picked up from a public-service announcement or something and is parroting it to get herself off the hook. And obviously she knew that her lies were being believed, and I suspect she had caused trouble in her previous schools as well; she was far too smooth and experienced a liar to have truly thought her lies wouldn't be believed.
I also found it a bit unbelievable that Simon and the school's principal-equivalent, Maggie, didn't get all the students and their parents together and discuss what had happened. That seemed very out of character, and downright unethical, for any school, even more so for a close-knit, hands-on alternative school like this one.
What I did like was that the book offered no happy endings, no neat wrap-up. Simon may have put a little too much of the blame on Alex, but his anger and hurt are completely understandable, and I think that his allowing her to feel guilt about her actions or lack thereof without an apology from him was also realistic. And I do think she needs that guilt and regret.
Stacy was something else that was portrayed more realistically than it usually is. She's a victim, but a thoroughly unlikable and unsympathetic victim. Her lies don't seem to have been a cry for help; rather, she seems to be the kind of person who stirs up trouble and pits people against each other just because she enjoys it and has gotten away with it. Not very PC, but I was glad to know that Stacy's abuse was not being used by the author as an "Aha, this explains it all! Poor Stacy, now we understand."
I would have liked to see Stacy face some real consequences for her actions, but that lack of closure is also realistic, as is the fact that we don't know if her father was ever punished. (Very un-PC of me to say, but I think having to put up with Stacy at all was a punishment in itself.)
Alexandra is a well-off, wel-behaved eighth-grader in a tiny, alternative classroom for other well-off, well-behaved kids. They're taught by Simon, a young, "cool" teacher whom they all admire and like. The students seem very insulated and sheltered in their little classroom until Stacy arrives.
Stacy is worldly, charismatic and manipulative. She's much more socially aware than the other kids, and she's smart enough to realize this and use it to her own advantage. Almost right away, Stacy begins planting seeds of distrust and suspicion among Alex and her friends. She insinuates that Simon is attracted to Alex, and Alex, who may or may not already have a little crush on Simon, begins wondering if it's true, and also starts to worry. Stacy's lies drive a wedge in between Alex and her best friend Tim, whom Stacy seems to like better than anyone else in the class.
The situation escalates to the point where Alex is actually afraid of Simon, even though she has known him for years and he has never done anything before to make her uncomfortable. Alex is confused and depressed and feels her parents are too busy to really listen to what she has to say.
It all comes to a head when Stacy is badly hurt in a rappelling accident on a school outing and at the hospital it's discovered that she has been sexually abused. Stacy points the finger at Simon, and though he is quickly cleared of official suspicion, (which promptly falls on Stacy's father) Simon feels betrayed and as if he can no longer trust the students he cared so much about. He particularly blames Alex because she should have known that what Stacy said about him was not true, yet she didn't tell anyone about it, and just continued to believe Stacy. Simon leaves his job without really even saying goodbye to his students.
When Alex confronts Stacy about her lies, Stacy shrugs them off with "Nobody believes you when you do tell the truth." This is where the story begins to fall flat. That sounds like something Stacy picked up from a public-service announcement or something and is parroting it to get herself off the hook. And obviously she knew that her lies were being believed, and I suspect she had caused trouble in her previous schools as well; she was far too smooth and experienced a liar to have truly thought her lies wouldn't be believed.
I also found it a bit unbelievable that Simon and the school's principal-equivalent, Maggie, didn't get all the students and their parents together and discuss what had happened. That seemed very out of character, and downright unethical, for any school, even more so for a close-knit, hands-on alternative school like this one.
What I did like was that the book offered no happy endings, no neat wrap-up. Simon may have put a little too much of the blame on Alex, but his anger and hurt are completely understandable, and I think that his allowing her to feel guilt about her actions or lack thereof without an apology from him was also realistic. And I do think she needs that guilt and regret.
Stacy was something else that was portrayed more realistically than it usually is. She's a victim, but a thoroughly unlikable and unsympathetic victim. Her lies don't seem to have been a cry for help; rather, she seems to be the kind of person who stirs up trouble and pits people against each other just because she enjoys it and has gotten away with it. Not very PC, but I was glad to know that Stacy's abuse was not being used by the author as an "Aha, this explains it all! Poor Stacy, now we understand."
I would have liked to see Stacy face some real consequences for her actions, but that lack of closure is also realistic, as is the fact that we don't know if her father was ever punished. (Very un-PC of me to say, but I think having to put up with Stacy at all was a punishment in itself.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2016
In the book Friction there is a lot of drama, but there are a lot of serious moments as well. The book takes place in Forest Alternative Middle School. The main character Alex was asked to show around the new girl Stacey who is older then everyone else in the class. As time goes by Alex starts to find out more things about Stacey that she doesn’t really like and she doesn’t really want to be her friend anymore. The other students in the class start figure out things about Stacey as well and they don’t really like her either. Things get said and the other kids don’t know who to believe Alex or Stacey? Friction was published on May 1ST 2003 in New York by E.R Frank.
There were a few strengths of the book, one strength was that the author was talking about real things. Sexual assault and harassment are real they happen all the time, more then they should but it’s the truth. The author E.R. Frank didn’t really talk a lot about why Stacey was being the way she was but once you finish the book it kind of makes since why she was lying and acting out. Another strength of the book is that it talks about how words DO hurt and how they can destroy someone. In this book there wasn’t really mean words said to the other kids by people but there were mean words said to the teacher and about him. There was a lot of lying done by Stacey and the last lie she told got so serious that it made the teacher and another student Alex get investigated. The teacher ended up leaving his job and moving away even though they proved that he didn’t do anything. Saying things that are mean and not true can ruin someone's life.
In Friction there was also a few weaknesses of the book as well. On weakness was that this book is about middle schooler's and some things that were mentioned in the book I don’t think they should've talked about when talking about 12-14 year old's. Another weakness is that one minute the characters were talking about one thing and a second later they were talking about a completely different topic. It jumped around a lot I guess you would say.
This book has good and bad things about it but personally after really thinking about it I really liked it. The book teaches you so many things and so many life lessons if you really think and pay attention to what you are reading. I'm not saying this book makes you think and is confusing or stuff like you could read it with out going into detail and doing the extra thinking and still understand what it's saying. But if you really want to get deep into detail like how I did you might want to try reading in between the lines, really think about what you are reading. In Friction I like how real it was and I also like how it felt like I was a character in the book. As soon as I opened the book I was in a different place. Also I haven't read any books in a long time and reading this book made me remember why I would use to read all the time. You fall in love with the story, you become another character in the book, you go into a new world when you read. I really missed that and this book made me remember all of that. There was one thing I didn’t really like about it. Also I liked how the book has a lot of real life lessons in it but they also added some other things in it so it's not so sad and depressing through out I mean it is about middle schooler's after all. The ending wasn't my favorite it just ended there wasn’t any lead up to it or anything it just stopped.
Over all I would recommend this book to my friends that like to read especially about real life things that happen everyday.
There were a few strengths of the book, one strength was that the author was talking about real things. Sexual assault and harassment are real they happen all the time, more then they should but it’s the truth. The author E.R. Frank didn’t really talk a lot about why Stacey was being the way she was but once you finish the book it kind of makes since why she was lying and acting out. Another strength of the book is that it talks about how words DO hurt and how they can destroy someone. In this book there wasn’t really mean words said to the other kids by people but there were mean words said to the teacher and about him. There was a lot of lying done by Stacey and the last lie she told got so serious that it made the teacher and another student Alex get investigated. The teacher ended up leaving his job and moving away even though they proved that he didn’t do anything. Saying things that are mean and not true can ruin someone's life.
In Friction there was also a few weaknesses of the book as well. On weakness was that this book is about middle schooler's and some things that were mentioned in the book I don’t think they should've talked about when talking about 12-14 year old's. Another weakness is that one minute the characters were talking about one thing and a second later they were talking about a completely different topic. It jumped around a lot I guess you would say.
This book has good and bad things about it but personally after really thinking about it I really liked it. The book teaches you so many things and so many life lessons if you really think and pay attention to what you are reading. I'm not saying this book makes you think and is confusing or stuff like you could read it with out going into detail and doing the extra thinking and still understand what it's saying. But if you really want to get deep into detail like how I did you might want to try reading in between the lines, really think about what you are reading. In Friction I like how real it was and I also like how it felt like I was a character in the book. As soon as I opened the book I was in a different place. Also I haven't read any books in a long time and reading this book made me remember why I would use to read all the time. You fall in love with the story, you become another character in the book, you go into a new world when you read. I really missed that and this book made me remember all of that. There was one thing I didn’t really like about it. Also I liked how the book has a lot of real life lessons in it but they also added some other things in it so it's not so sad and depressing through out I mean it is about middle schooler's after all. The ending wasn't my favorite it just ended there wasn’t any lead up to it or anything it just stopped.
Over all I would recommend this book to my friends that like to read especially about real life things that happen everyday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews