Girls aren't always the nicest, and sometime they can be downright mean, especially as they
get older. Kate learned this the hard way in The Secret Language of Girls. Frances O'Roark Dowell returns to Kate, Marilyn, Mazie and Flannery in the sequel The Kind of Friends We Used to Be.
Jock. Cheerleader. Nerd. Weird. Pretty. Ugly. These are all labels that we give ourselves and others. Middle schoolers Kate and Marilyn both struggle with who they think they are, who they want to be and what others think of them in this believable tween novel.
Dowell captures the pettiness of middle school while also capturing the empowering moments that can happen when both boys and girls defy the stereotypes around them. This book skews a bit older, as boys and dating are the main concerns of the day, but the emotions and inner conflicts of the characters are so well written that they brought back memories of my own middle school experience!
Fans of The Clique will relate to both The Secret Language of Girls and The Kind of Friends We Used to Be.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
To suggest other titles to the committee, please email newberysuggestions@kcls.org.
get older. Kate learned this the hard way in The Secret Language of Girls. Frances O'Roark Dowell returns to Kate, Marilyn, Mazie and Flannery in the sequel The Kind of Friends We Used to Be. Jock. Cheerleader. Nerd. Weird. Pretty. Ugly. These are all labels that we give ourselves and others. Middle schoolers Kate and Marilyn both struggle with who they think they are, who they want to be and what others think of them in this believable tween novel.
Dowell captures the pettiness of middle school while also capturing the empowering moments that can happen when both boys and girls defy the stereotypes around them. This book skews a bit older, as boys and dating are the main concerns of the day, but the emotions and inner conflicts of the characters are so well written that they brought back memories of my own middle school experience!
Fans of The Clique will relate to both The Secret Language of Girls and The Kind of Friends We Used to Be.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
To suggest other titles to the committee, please email newberysuggestions@kcls.org.
A relatable and enjoyable coming of age story. Thumbs up!