"Q: What do Ute carvings, corn-husking parties, and telegraph machines have in common? A: They are all early forms of social networking, discussed in Friend Me! DiPiazza takes a look at various historical forms of social networking throughout history and discusses the fact that our desire to communicate with and be in social groups is not new; we just go about it differently. Topics discussed include uniting the Native American nations, creating community in the context of slavery, and various forms of technology that have led to tremendous leaps in social networking. DiPiazza does a good job of tying his theme together and making transitions from one concept to the next. For example, telegraph operators used abbreviations in their telegrams that are similar to the text-messaging shortcuts used today. Friend Me! contains black-and-white pictures with a soft blue text bubble to provide additional information. There are plenty of pictures to illustrate what the author is saying and help reinforce the message.
Friend Me! takes a popular topic in the lives of teens and uses it to explore history in unique ways. This book provides information on a wide variety of topics and could be used to supplement research on some of the other topics mentioned, as well as the idea of social networking. This book is informative, interesting, and socially relevant - you will want to add this to your collection." (VOYA)

"From early Native American cultures to present-day scientists hoping to interact with possible extraterrestrial beings, people continue to reach out to others for a variety of purposes. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams combine with sidebars and a well-researched text to present the history and future of social networking and the means employed to connect with individuals and groups." (The Horn Book)

"The catchy title makes this appear to be about the recent phenomena of electronic social networks. However, the subtitle is a clue that the scope includes so much more. The whole scope of the American history of socializing is covered, beginning with the Iroquois and their method of weaving beads into wampum belts. Early religious groups, colonial coffeehouses, broadsides, secret gatherings of slaves, circuit riders, telegraphs, mail orders, and groups such as the YMCA and NAACP are profiled as examples of social networking. Today's online communities (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, e-mail, etc.) are touched upon with the supposition that face-to-face socializing is still important. The solid information will make this useful for reports, while the pleasing design set off by touches of blue, as well as the sufficient black-and-white archival photos placed throughout, make this plenty appealing for browsers." (Booklist)