Snapstreak: How My Friends Saved My (Social) Life

Gr 5–7—Vee is expecting to move at the end of her eighth-grade year, so she tries to strike up a friendship over Snapchat with a girl from her new school. At first she is only slightly exaggerating to make herself seem cooler and more popular. Then a local news channel announces a free concert for the pair of students from different schools who can keep a "Snapstreak" going the longest. Suddenly Vee's conversations on the app become vitally important to both girls and their schoolmates. Unfortunately, Vee gets a concussion, but her friends take over for her. This book is light and pleasant, told from alternating points of view from Vee and her friends (new and old). Each page is in full color with cheerful borders, colorful text bubbles, and photos of messages. The majority of characters are white; one girl is black. This book will appeal to reluctant readers, fans of design-heavy titles, and those who are obsessed with social media. Some educators and parents might have concerns about a book marketed to middle grade students who are generally too young to have accounts in the social media service being primarily featured. (Snapchat has a minimum age of 13 in their terms of service.)