“Flying from Chicago to Boston by myself hasn’t been as big a deal as my dad said it was going to be.”

From Andrew Clements’ The Friendship War.

Grace loves math, science, and collecting items that are important to her.  Her mom, dad, and older brother have all grown accustomed to Grace’s slight hoarding-like tendencies because they understand that each item in her room connects to a special memory.  When Grace takes a solo trip to visit her grandfather in Boston, she is glad for the time alone with Grandpa even though it is still sad since Grandma died last year.  When Grandpa announces that he purchased an old abandoned mill, Grace is unsure where Grandpa enthusiasm is coming from until they discover 27 big boxes full of old buttons.  Grandpa also gets Grace’s collecting, so when she asks if she can have the buttons, he ships them to her at home in Chicago.  Grace is thrilled to have the buttons and can’t wait to tell her best friend, Ellie, all about her trip to Grandpa’s, but the “Ellie Effect” (her constant talking about her always great life) makes Grace decide to keep it to herself.  However, when a social studies show-and-tell with some buttons from the mill launches Grace into popularity, it makes Ellie jealous.  Then when Ellie suggests that everyone bring buttons to lunch for a mini show-and-tell, Grace gives away some buttons and ignites a school-wide button fever.  While the button trading explodes around Grace and her classmates (including the intelligent, but slightly nerdy Hank), it also drives Grace and Ellie into an all-out war, which leaves Grace struggling to survive the mess she somehow stumbled into.

Clements’ is well-known as a master storyteller, and this book is no exception.  The story will appeal equally to both children and adult readers with elements that are unexpected and captivating.  An unforgettable story, The Friendship War is a must-read for anyone looking for a solid, quick read.