PROVE YOU'RE MY FRIEND: Joshua's Choice - A Story About Peer Pressure, Bullying, and Finding Your Voice

What happens when your only friend asks you to prove your friendship by doing something you know is wrong?Joshua Relles knows stealing is wrong. He believes in treating others the way he wants to be treated. But Marcus is his only friend-and Marcus does not like hearing no.At first, the pressure comes through small tests: laughing at someone's embarrassment, helping with a cruel prank, sharing homework, and keeping harmful secrets. Each time Joshua refuses, Marcus calls him scared, boring, or disloyal.Then Marcus places a bag of candy in Joshua's hands and says: "If you're really my friend, prove it."Afraid of being alone again, Joshua ignores the warning in his stomach and makes a choice he immediately regrets. When he gets caught, Marcus runs away, denies everything, and leaves Joshua to face the consequences alone.Through honest conversations with his parents, support from a school counselor, and the courage to repair the harm he caused, Joshua discovers an important truth: Anyone who asks you to lose yourself to keep their friendship is not treating you like a true friend.Prove You're My Friend is a compelling middle-grade story for readers ages 10-14 about peer pressure, bullying disguised as friendship, loneliness, stealing, harmful jokes, online humiliation, personal responsibility, and finding the courage to say no.Young readers will also discover: - How to recognize controlling and unhealthy friendships- The warning signs of peer pressure and emotional bullying- Strong words to use when someone refuses to accept no- The difference between telling and tattling- How to identify trusted adults and ask for help- How to take responsibility without believing one mistake defines them- What respectful, safe, and honest friendship looks likePerfect for preteens, middle school students, parents, teachers, counselors, classrooms, anti-bullying programs, and social-emotional learning discussions.Sometimes the bravest way to protect a friendship is to say yes.And sometimes the bravest way to protect yourself is to say no.