7 Middle Grade Novels About Outgrowing Friendships

11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass
Amanda and Leo have shared their birthday every year, that is, until this year. For her 11th birthday, Amanda is forced to reconcile not celebrating with her old friend. At the end of the day, she is relieved to have this birthday behind her, but little does she know, she’s in for a “Groundhog Day” type of surprise. When Amanda awakes the next morning, it is her 11th birthday all over again. Forced to relive the day many times over, Amanda learns about growing up, growing apart, and the truth about friendships.

Blackbird Fly, by Erin Entrada Kelly 
As a twelve-year old, school is a tricky place for Apple. She has always tried to fit in with the popular kids, despite her Filipino mother telling her she is becoming too American. When her friends turn on her, she decides to turn to music. Saving money for her own guitar, Apple meets two new friends. It will be up to the reader to decide if it’s the music or the new friends that save her. Or maybe, Apple saves herself. A good book that addresses popularity issues, with Apple showing readers how someone can go their own way, and that there is much more to school than being one of the popular kids.

Awkward, by Svetlana Chmakova
Peppi starts at a new school and almost immediately she breaks one of the cardinal rules of middle school, getting called out by the mean kids after tripping into a shy, quiet boy named Jaime. Instead of standing up to them, she joins them by shoving Jaime. She then surrounds herself with new “friends,” but starts to doubt her own sincerity and regrets that she hurt a fellow student. Awkward, indeed! Peppi soon learns that friends—whether new or old—aren’t always what they seem to be. She also learns that sometimes rules are made to be broken.

My Year of Epic Rock, by Andrea Pyros
It’s the first day of seventh grade and Nina’s BFF, Brianna, has left her for a new BFF. Now Nina is not only friendless, but she must sit at the peanut-less table all by herself because of her severe allergy. Nina and Brianna used to make fun of the kids at this table, and now she is one of them. Eventually, Nina forms a band with her table mates and they all prepare for the talent show, just as Nina prepares for a showdown with Brianna. Ultimately, Nina realizes she deserves to be treated better. A perfect pick for any kids challenged with middle school style BFF dramas.

My Last Best Friend (Friends for Keeps Series #1), by Julie Bowe
Ida May starts fourth grade without her best friend, who moved away. Determined to not make any new friends—she would rather be lonely than be hurt again by losing a friend—Ida’s plan goes awry when new girl Stacey arrives at school. Young middle grade readers will enjoy reading about how Ida and Stacey develop a new friendship, via anonymous notes. A perfect pick for when friendships fade due to distance and time.

Swing Sideways, by Nanci Turner Steveson
Sometimes the opportunity to get away from a group of friends and meet new ones is all it takes to understand that friendships change over time. This novel explores just that, as Annie heads to the country for the summer, a perfect chance to take a break from her fake friends back home and develop a new friendship with California. The two find each other at the perfect time and create a memorable summer with one another. Your tween will giggle, cry, and learn all about growing up with unforgettable friends.

The Museum of Intangible Things, by Wendy Wunder
Hannah and Zoe have been friends through thick and thin, or in their case, alcoholism and bipolar disorder. After a crashed party, Zoe’s manic behavior leads them on a cross-country car trip in Hannah’s old Le Mans. Heading west, they confront the realization that a friendship cannot always last. Like the gas tank on a car, there are limits. Hannah knows that she cannot provide all the help Zoe needs, making for an excellent discussion with your middle grader about when a friend needs more help than you can provide for them.