FRIEND GROUP

Twelve-year-old Sadie Zankel can’t believe her luck when she’s accidentally added to the group chat of an exclusive friend group at East Brookside Middle School.

Sadie Zankel and Olive Horowitz-Yang have been best friends since birth. The night before seventh grade, Sadie sets a clear intention: Quit obsessing over OSZ—the Other Sadie Z, or Sadie Zicholtz—and her clique. OSZ’s crew never get it wrong—perfect outfits, perfect hair, and an effortless confidence Sadie can’t match. Even though she knows it’s wrong, after she’s mistakenly added, Sadie secretly stays on the group chat. Armed with an insider’s perspective, she gains the confidence to talk with the friend group members in real life and establish a connection—for herself. She’s aware that if they took her in, there wouldn’t be room for Olive too. Unlike Sadie, Olive isn’t obsessed with OSZ; she wants their friendship to stay the same. When Olive learns about the group chat, her anxiety deepens, straining their bond. Ultimately, Sadie realizes she can grow and make new friends without leaving her friendship with Olive behind. The chapters switch between Sadie’s first-person narration and text exchanges. Sadie navigates the familiar highs and lows of middle school, including a crush, awkward self-doubt, and friendship drama. Her perspective, thoughtfully juxtaposed with the group chat, show that personal struggles are universal. The leads are Jewish, and Olive’s surname cues some Asian heritage.

A sincere friendship story full of heartache, growth, and self-discovery.