Frankie & Bug

By Gayle Forman

Two kids discover friendship and identity during a transformative summer.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,155 ratings

288 pages· 47,664 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the summer of 1987, ten-year-old Bug is left to spend her days with Frankie, a stranger and her neighbor's nephew. Initially reluctant, Bug and Frankie soon bond over shared experiences, uncovering truths about family, friendship, and self-identity. As they navigate a world that isn't always fair, they learn the importance of being true to oneself and standing up for others. This summer will challenge their perceptions and redefine what it means to belong. Can Bug and Frankie find their place in a complicated world?

From the publisher

“Joyful, occasionally heartbreaking, deeply moving.” –R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman comes a poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world. It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie. Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world. Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.

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