Friendships play a vital role in our lives—especially when we are teenagers. Friends offer connection, adventure, and support. Whether you love meeting new people, prefer one-on-one connections, or feel more comfortable talking to people online, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to friendship. February 11 is “Make a Friend Day,” but we're celebrating all month long. Inspired by the popular early 2000s-style quizzes teens used to take in magazines with their friends, we've created a quiz of our own. Read on to discover your preferred friendship style, and explore personalized YA recommendations featuring stories about friendship!
QUIZ: WHAT’S YOUR FRIENDSHIP STYLE?
- It’s the weekend! What are you and your friends doing?
- Trying to decide between a concert or an escape room.
- Staying inside and watching movies. Duh.
- Unfortunately working on a group project. Thankfully, we are in the same group.
- FaceTiming each other or playing an online game together. We see each other every day at school; we don’t need to hang out in person.
- How do you usually support your friends?
- Planning a surprise birthday party.
- Being there to listen when they’re having a hard time.
- Solving their problems for them. They’d be lost without me.
- Sending them funny videos.
- Which of these sounds most like you?
- “Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.” —Stacey Lee, Under A Painted Sky
- “Life is an awful, ugly place not to have a friend.” —Sarah Dessen, Someone Like You
- “When you’re used to hanging out with a person every single day, a few days off can sometimes seem more like a few months.” —Jason Reynolds, When I Was The Greatest
- “The beautiful thing about best friends? They can tell when you don’t wanna talk, and they don’t push it.” —Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
- What’s your dream gift for a friend?
- Tickets to a concert.
- Something handmade.
- Money because they are super hard to shop for.
- The next book or movie in a series that we love.
- Your ideal friendship would be:
- Full of adventure.
- Built on trust and support.
- Focused on shared values and making a difference in the world.
- Based on shared interests and feeling safe.
RESULTS
Mostly A’s: The Courageous Friend
You are adventurous, and what greater adventure is there than one with your friends? They know you would do anything for them. Recommended reads:
- Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
- Ex-best friends Brad and Celine reconnect during a survival course in the woods.
- All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
- A story of best friends facing their own struggles and fighting to find their way together in a small desert town.
- A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
- A found family of magical misfits embark on a heist in a deadly world of treachery.
Mostly B’s: The Understanding Confidant
You’re a natural listener and your friends come to you often for support. You value loyalty and people you can be emotional with. Recommended reads:
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
- Pip investigates the murder of a popular girl in her small town with the help of an unlikely ally.
- When the Ground is Hard by Malla Nunn
- Two unlikely friends navigate prejudice and challenges at an elite boarding school in 1960s Swaziland.
- So Witches We Became by Jill Bagucinksy
- When her best friend dies, a grieving teen forms a coven to honor her memory and uncover the truth
Mostly C’s: The Activist Ally
You love your friends and want the world to embrace them. You do everything you can to make the world a better place. Recommended reads:
- Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin
- A candid exploration of identity and belonging as two teens grapple with friendship, love, and family expectations.
- Stand! By Tommie Smith
- An inspiring graphic memoir about Tommie Smith’s journey as an athlete and activist fighting for justice.
- We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
- A family secret and racial tensions collide as Avery uncovers the past in a small Southern town.
Mostly D’s: The Online Connector
Some of your best friends are online. You can find people there that share your interests and let you be yourself. Recommended reads:
- Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
- A neurodivergent teen finds connection and love during a summer working with her family.
- If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So
- A girl sets out to meet her online crush and untangles the messy threads of relationships along the way.
- The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
- A queer Mexican American teen navigates her new Catholic school and finds unexpected connections.
Looking for something fun to do with your friends?
The library offers a ton of programs for teens like you! It’s also a great place to meet people with shared interests and to make new friends. Visit our Programs and Events Calendar to check out our upcoming events. Here are a few February highlights: