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Summary
Summary
Lara's friendship matchmaking days are over now that she has an Official Best Friend (OBF) in Tanya. But when when a new boy named Majur transfers to their grade and outplays Chris Martin, the school bully, on the soccer field, Chris's rule is suddenly over. Now alone and unable to make friends on his own, Chris turns to Lara Zany who can't resist the challenge. Finding Chris a friend isn't her only challenge-Lara must balance her new friendship with Tany and Emily, plus make sure Majur, a refugee from Sudan, fits in. Lara Zany has her work cut out for her in this charming sequel about finding true friends despite big differences.
Author Notes
Randa Abdel-Fattah was born on July 6 1979 in Sydney Australia. She is an Australian Muslim writer of Palestinian and Egyptian decent. Her first novel Does My Head Look Big in This? was published in 2005.
Abdel-Fattah studied a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law at the University of Melbourne. During this time, she was the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic Council of Victoria, a role that afforded her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about their representation of Muslims and Islam. Abdel-Fattah was a passionate human rights advocate and stood in the 1998 federal election as a member of the Unity Party. Her book titles include: Ten Things I Hate about Me, Where the Streets Had a Name, Noah's Law and The Friendship Matchmaker. In 2015 her title Does My Head Look Big in This? will be adapted into a film.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-In this sequel to The Friendship Matchmaker (Walker, 2012), seventh-grader Lara Zany finds herself back in her role as Potts County Middle School's Friendship Matchmaker. Although she promised her Official Best Friend, Tanya, that she was out of the matchmaking game, she can't resist meddling. When new student Majur transfers to her class from war-torn Sudan and ends up displacing the school bully from his role as soccer star, Lara finds herself drawn into their conflict. To keep the peace with Tanya, she tries to do her friendship matchmaking undercover and unofficially, but she discovers that keeping secrets is no way to keep a friend. Reading the first book is not necessary to enjoy the second. The story has some light humor and is written in a style that should connect well with its intended audience. Instant message transcripts, texts, and handwritten notes are scattered throughout, propelling the plot and adding interest. The story has just enough conflict to make it interesting, though it tends toward the moralistic. The school bully is redeemed through Lara's influence and everything ends on a happy, though perhaps a little too pat, note. Lara is well developed through her inner monologue, and though the other characters are more lightly sketched, fans of school stories will likely enjoy this book.-Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Lara (The Friendship Matchmaker) has hung up her matchmaking hat, but she keeps seeing people she can help. The arrival of a Sudanese refugee student shakes up the middle-school social scene in unexpected ways, and Lara is forced out of retirement. But will her sneaking around ruin her new best-friendship with Tanya? Though occasionally heavy-handed, Abdel-Fattah's tackling of prejudice and cultural difference is admirable. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Seventh-grader Lara discovers just how difficult it can be to change established habits. As the former FMM--or friendship matchmaker--of her middle school, Lara was accustomed to managing the social lives of her peers. Now she has vowed to refrain from matchmaking, but Lara still feels compelled to intervene. When a new student's arrival alters the social balance, Lara clandestinely resumes her role as FMM in order to fulfill an unusual request: seek out a potential friend for Chris, a student known for his malicious, bullying behavior. Abdel-Fattah adeptly addresses the social concerns of early adolescents in this perceptive tale. As Lara attempts to find a match for Chris, the circumstances that influence his negative actions are subtly revealed. When Lara cleverly pairs Chris with Antony, an enthusiastic yet unskilled athlete, the opportunity to be a mentor has a profound effect on Chris and his behavior. In addition to arranging the relationships of others, Lara must also resolve her own friendship insecurities. Amid these familiar friendship concerns, Abdel-Fattah also addresses other complex issues, most notably with the new student's arrival. Through Majur's experiences as a refugee adjusting to life in a new country, she examines the effects of war on children and their families. Although she struggles in her efforts to resolve her managing ways, Lara's genuine kindness and compassion remain evident in this poignant sequel. (Fiction. 10-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
