42 pages • 1 hour read
Shannon Hale, Illustr. LeUyen PhamReal Friends
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Cultural Context: Shannon Hale and the LDS Church
Shannon Hale was born in Salt Lake City in 1974. She has written dozens of novels and graphic novels for middle-grade and young adult audiences. Her most famous books include The Goose Girl (2003) and Princess Academy (2005). Hale has co-authored several books with her husband, Dean Hale. She has four children. Hale was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), also called the Mormon Church. She included references to her religion in Real Friends. In one scene, her parents read scripture to her and her siblings. Shannon aspires to be patient and forgiving like the prophets, by which she means major figures in LDS spirituality, such as the founders of the LDS Church. In her adult life, Hale has moved away from the LDS Church as of 2021. She still considers herself a Mormon, but she objects to the church’s “rejection of LGBTQ people, history of racism, and continual subjugation of women,” according to a recent interview (Butler, Kiera. “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Shannon Hale.” Mother Jones, 13 July 2023).
The LDS Church was established in the late 1820s and 1830s after a young man named Joseph Smith claimed to have received a new Christian scripture through angelic visions. The text, called The Book of Mormon, is based on Christian doctrine but adds new theology to the existing scriptures. Early converts to Mormonism were displaced several times when their religious beliefs angered other Christian communities. Many of them eventually traveled west across the United States, establishing a Mormon community in what became Salt Lake City, Utah. They displaced existing Indigenous communities in the process. Many contemporary residents of Salt Lake City are direct descendants of those original Mormon settlers. Today, there are over 17 million members of the LDS Church worldwide. LDS members are typically required to take part in missionary trips that usually last one or two years; Hale’s mission trip took her to Paraguay.
Social Context: Mental Illness in Children
Throughout Real Friends, Shannon starts to display worsening symptoms of anxiety and OCD. She has frequent stomach aches and counts things obsessively. The first time she visits a doctor in the book, the doctor suspects that she is just allergic to dairy and recommends dietary changes that do not help. The second time, the doctor correctly guesses that Shannon is experiencing anxiety but says that most kids grow out of it and simply advises Shannon not to worry so much. In her Author’s Note at the end of the book, Hale says, “The mysterious stomach aches and some of those sad, anxious, yucky feelings were probably symptoms of an anxiety disorder and mild obsessive-compulsive disorder” (215). She also notes that “the sister who inspired the character of Wendy also struggled with undiagnosed behavioral health disorders. Back then, no one really knew what to do for kids whose brains worked a little differently” (215).
Today, mental health issues among children and teenagers are better understood. More parents and teachers understand that mental illnesses need treatment and care just like physical illnesses do. Mental health awareness campaigns have made it easier for some young people to access medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes to help them manage their symptoms. At the same time, several high-profile mental health organizations like the American Psychological Association have reported increases in mental illness among young people in the US (Abrams, Zara. “Kids’ Mental Health Is in Crisis. Here’s What Psychologists Are Doing to Help.” American Psychological Association, 1 Jan 2023). The causes of this spike in mental illness are not yet fully understood, though the COVID-19 pandemic has been one major factor. Young people experiencing any symptoms of mental illness need understanding and care to facilitate their recovery. The following organizations provide resources for young people and those who care for them:
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has a collection of digital shareables that cover a wide variety of mental health issues that children and adolescents face, including teen depression and managing stress and anxiety.
- The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) has online resources and factsheets to support children with anxiety, depression, and OCD. These resources are aimed both at children and parents.
- PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center has many resources for kids and teens who are experiencing bullying, including a website aimed at elementary students that helps students recognize bullying and take action to stand up for themselves and others. There is a similar website aimed at teens.
