Crushed - Melanie Conklin

A heartfelt middle grade story about changing friendships, peer pressure, and the courage to speak up when lines are crossed, perfect for fans of Starfish and Finally Heard. n Sophie Valentine would rather be at home, doing school virtually. Instead, she's waiting in a crowded middle school building for her best friend, Eve, who's finally back after an extended absence, which only Sophie knows the truth about. n n But when Eve returns, things aren't the same. First, Eve stops walking to school with her in the morning. Then, she's ditching Sophie to hang out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids notorious for their social media dares. Eve seems to fit right in, but Sophie is devastated: Did she just lose her best friend? n n When rumors surface that Eve is hiding a painful secret she didn't share with Sophie, Sophie is spurred on an investigation to discover what--or who--caused the incident behind Eve's sudden change...and why all clues lead back to the Crash Crew. Using lessons from her forensics class and the help of a new friend, Sophie will have to uncover the truth before more harm is done.n