Friends for Life - Hardcover

Norriss, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0545851866 ISBN 13: 9780545851862

Publisher: David Fickling Books, 2015

Synopsis

When Jessica sits next to Francis on a bench during recess, he's surprised to learn that she isn't actually alive--she's a ghost. And she's surprised, too, because Francis is the first person who has been able to see her since she died.

Before long, Francis and Jessica are best friends, enjoying life more than they ever have. When they meet two more friends who can also see Jessica, the question arises: What is it that they have in common? And does it have something to do with Jessica being a ghost?

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Norriss is the Whitbread Award-winning author of Aquila (Puffin, 1997). He taught English for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. He has created and co-written several successful British sitcoms, including a few adaptations of his children's books. He lives in Hampshire, England. Visit him online at www.andrewnorriss.co.uk

Reviews

Gr 5 Up—Francis, a middle school student, is sitting by himself on a bench during lunch. He wants to be alone and seldom speaks to anyone in school. Out of nowhere, a young girl, Jessica, appears wearing a sleeveless dress in the freezing February weather. He offers her warm tea, and she is more than a little startled because she, too, has not communicated with anyone for a very long time—a year, in fact. Jessica is a ghost, and Francis is the first live person able to see and talk to her. Thus begins an unusual friendship of a lonely boy and a sympathetic ghost. But it doesn't end there. Jessica and Francis go ahead and befriend two more lonely souls, Andi and Roland, and the four become inseparable. The adolescents are linked by their painful experiences and their mutual thoughts of suicide. Each person's situation is a bit different; Francis is teased because he likes to design and sew girls' clothes; Andi looks masculine and is quick to punch anyone, boy or girl, who makes comments; while Roland is grossly overweight and bullied. The friends make it their mission to discover why Jessica is still roaming the world of the living. Norriss has a keen eye for well-meaning adults who are nevertheless powerless to prevent possible tragedies. In the course of the book, Norriss provides some positive suggestions that a suicidal or depressed youngster may pick up on. VERDICT This novel deals with the subjects of suicide and depression among young teens and should be available in middle school classrooms and libraries.—Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From FRIENDS FOR LIFE:Francis had not wanted company, but he was curious. Why had she come across the field to sit beside him? Why had she not spoken? And why was she apparently immune to the cold? "You might want some of this," he said, holding out his mug. "It's only tea, but it's warm." The girl turned to face him, then turned her head in the opposite direction, as if to see who he was talking to. When she realized there was nobody else, and that he must have been talking to her, a look of shocked surprise crossed her face. "Are you . . . are you talking to me?" she asked. "Sorry." Francis withdrew the offered mug. "Won't happen again." "You can hear me as well?" "Yes," said Francis. "Sorry about that, too." The girl frowned. "But nobody can see me! Or hear me!" "Can't they?" "Unless . . ." The girl peered at him intently. "You're not dead as well, are you?" "I don't think so." "I don't understand . . ." The girl was still staring at him. "You're . . . um . . . you're dead yourself, are you?" Francis tried to keep a casual tone in his voice as he packed his thermos into his bag. "What? Oh . . . yes." As if to illustrate her point, the girl lifted an arm and ran it through the planks that made up the back of the bench as if they had no more substance than smoke. "But I don't understand why you can see me. I mean . . . nobody can!"

Edition details

• Publisher: David Fickling Books
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0545851866
• ISBN 13: 9780545851862
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 234