Building Character with Devon Abrams from Best Friends...Forever?

Hooray, it’s finally Friday. This week we have a Building Character interview with Devon Abrams from Best Friends…Forever? by Krysten Lindsay Hager. Thanks for joining us today on Strands of Thoughts, Devon. Let’s start by you telling us a little about yourself.

I’m Devon Abrams, an eighth grader at Hillcrest Academy and one of Landry Albright’s best friends. I have been best friends with two other girls (India and Peyton) since we were in the fourth grade, but Landry just joined our group this year after her other friends kind of dumped her when she was chosen to move on in the American Ingénue modeling competition without them. I was chosen for the competition, too, but…well, I didn’t make it past the next round and Landry did. I’m happy for her, but it does hurt not to get chosen. It was a little hard to get past it and then recently Landry told me India had gone to a basketball game with my crush behind my back. India and I have been friends forever and she told me Landry was just trying to cause drama. I didn’t think Landry would do that, but then again, I didn’t think India would go behind my back either. Middle school can be really confusing. You never know who your real friends are sometimes.

As hard as navigating middle school can be, it’s important you stay true to yourself. Don’t let ugly things like that change you. Have you learned anything while trying to figure this out?

I guess I’ve learned to trust my instincts about people. Sometimes you hear that a friend did something to you and went behind your back, but you don’t want to believe that she did it, so you believe her when you confront her and she twists the truth. No one wants to think their best friend could go out with the guy she knows you have a crush on, but…it happens. Landry tried to tell me what was going on with Doug and India, but I didn’t want to see it. I’ve known India forever and couldn’t believe she’d do that to me.

I’m sorry, Devon. Tell us more about your best friends.

Like I said, I’ve been best friends with India Allen and Peyton Urich for years and now Landry Albright has joined our group, too. A few months ago, Landry and I got best friend bracelets and India was NOT happy about that. I didn’t think India was still mad about that, but maybe that explains why she went out with my crush and then tried to blame Landry for spreading gossip.

Jealousy can make people do some mean things. What’s your strongest personality trait?

I’m a loyal friend. Even after all Landry, India, Peyton, and I have been through, they still know when it’s all said and done that I’ve got their backs. Even though things got weird with me not trusting Landry, once we made up, I made sure she knew I was on her side when that rumor came up about her ex, Vladi, dumping her for the super popular Yasmin McCarty. We all rallied around Landry to try to help her. And I always stick up from my friends no matter. I really hate when Landry’s friends Tori and Ericka make those passive aggressive remarks to her. With friends like that...

Is there anything about you that people always give you a hard time about? How do you feel about it?

I know people think I’m quick to get mad, but it’s only because I’m sensitive and it’s a defensive thing, you know? I get my feelings hurt so easily and sometimes I think that if people know how I’ll react to stuff then maybe they’ll think twice about hurting my feelings. It doesn’t really seem to work for me, but it’s hard to know who you can trust sometimes.

Okay, let’s finish up on a lighter note. What are your three favorite leisure activities?

I love hanging out with my friends. It’s fun to go to the mall, go to basketball games at the high school (and then out for ice cream afterward), and sometimes it’s just fun to do a movie night with my friends—especially at Peyton’s house. I love action movies with my favorite actor, Blake Alderson. My friends tease me because he’s older, but I have loved him forever. I’ve seen all his movies.

Thanks for visiting with us, Devon. Good luck with your friends and with your brand new book! Readers, here is more information about Devon’s book, Best Friends…Forever?  

Landry Albright hopes the new year will start off in an amazing way—instead she has to deal with more frenemy issues, boy drama, and having most of her best friends make the cheerleading squad without her. Suddenly, it seems like all anyone can talk about is starting high school next year—something she finds terrifying.

Landry gets her first boyfriend, but then gets dumped just as things come to a head with her friends Devon, India, and Ashanti. She feels lost and left out, but finds good advice about dealing with frenemies from what she considers an unlikely source. Landry faces having to speak up for what’s right, tell the truth (even when it hurts), and how to get past the fear of failure as she gets another shot at competing in the American Ingénue modeling competition.

Pick up your own copy at:

And here’s the 411 on Devon’s author:

Krysten Lindsay Hager is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series, a clean reads young adult series. Krysten writes about  friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, and crushes in both True Colors and Best Friends…Forever?

Krysten is an Amazon international bestselling author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Connect with Krysten:



Comments

  1. Those middle school years can be tough. Good luck to Devon.
    Great interview. I enjoyed meeting the girls. Their problems sound familiar. Congratulations, Krysten.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tough years to navigate, for sure. Thanks for visiting, Beverly. Happy Friday!

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    2. Thanks, Beverly! They are tough years and really shape us so much.

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