In Frances O’Roark Dowell’s latest novel, The Kind of Friends We Used to Be, Kate and Marilyn are starting 7th grade. Friends since preschool, the two girls start a new stage in life when things become more complicated and they begin to explore who they are and who they want to be.
For Marilyn, getting in to the popular crowd is the focus of her ambitions. She’s joined the cheerleading squad and with hard work, she’s now part of the “in crowd.” Just the opposite is coming true for Kate – she’d rather learn to play guitar, wear combat boots every day, and join the creative writing club. Each girl faces similar challenges as they negotiate the complex waters of junior high friendships, rivalries, and peer expectations.
Told in chapters that alternate between each girl, we see and feel the intricacies of negotiating junior high with characters who are typical of so many. Easily identifiable situations, feelings and choices will resonate with readers, as will the voices of the two girls. O’Roark skillfully builds sympathy for both girls throughout, although the ending comes abruptly and seems somewhat disjointed from the flow of the rest of the book.
- Posted by Cori