Making Friends with Alice Dyson

Gr 9 Up–Alice Dyson is a senior who wants to study and do her homework. She is not someone who would be friends with the school’s bad boy; but that all changes one day when a video goes viral of Alice and Teddy Taualai having a dance-off. Alice’s quiet life as a bookworm grows more complicated when Teddy wants to become part of it. Alice is a character who is comforted by routine—she is shy and wants to stick to herself and her friend May, but readers learn that life is not always simple. Teddy is the complete opposite of her, and it brings a fun, cutesy feel to this book. This is a lighthearted novel that teens across the globe will relate to. It proves one shouldn’t judge everyone by what they see, or hear, on the outside. Gossip, social media, friendship, and relationships are all brought to the forefront, which will make this book appealing to teens.