Among Friends

Three girls who had been friends since 3rd grade are given a daunting assignment. Their aptly-named 11th-grade English teacher, Ms. MacBeth, has a fondness for Shakespeare and journals. She assigns her students the task of keeping a journal with the clear understanding that their privacy will not be violated. Jennie Quint, an over-achiever, pressured by driven parents to succeed at all costs is the leader of a clique called "The Awesome Threesome." Bright and talented, she has written a musical and scores of music and is in the accelerated academics program. Hillary Lang is also an only child. She shares some of Jennie's classes and over time, her adoration of Jennie starts to ebb as jealousy and resentment set in. Emily Weinstein has one younger brother and is determined to catch up to Jennie. Dubbed "the Star of the East," in part a nod to the Christmas musical she has written and also in part a mocking nickname for her high academic ranking on the East Coast, Jennie comes under scathing attack from Emily. The fall of the Threesome is an insidious, gradual progress that accelerates during the months of December and January. The three girls and two classmates try to ferret out the screts of a new boy in their grade, a boy whom they nickname Paul Classified. Paul in turn has a journal rife with tragic family secrets, such as a mentally ill stepmother and a sister who left home. In time, the students develop a startling awareness of themselves and the words of George Harrison seem sadly apt in this book, "it's easier to see the books upon the shelf than it is to see yourself." Jennie sadly discovers that in her household, she is viewed more as a trophy than as a daughter. Hillary confronts her resentment and makes some startling self discoveries as well and Emily realizes that she has let anger erode her part in the Threesome and that of the three, it is her daring to step up to the plate for Paul that expands the Threesome to include other students. They all see themselves and discover their true feelings about themselves and each other and how they evaluate other people. An excellent, well written book that I think all ages will enjoy. It is intense and compelling and a richly drawn portrait of several very realistic and appealing characters.

Caroline B. Cooney seemed to have written an amazing book on the problems that teenagers face while in their high school years. "Among Friends" tells the story from the teenagers point of view. There isnt just one main character. Instead the author did a wounderful job keeping your attention by having six main characters. Each teenager is writing in their journals and discussing the problems that are accuring at school. I found this unique way of writing to be cleaver and catchy because each problem that comes up is seen in a different piont of view. Also it made you think of which character you could relate to the most and what you would do if you were put in that posision. A good example of the different perspectives would be when Pual first came to school. Everyone thought that the reason of why Pual was telling anyone about himself was because he was keeping all these exciting adventures from the class. Unforutantley that wasnt true. Instead the reason why Pual wasnt saying anything was because he was scared of fasing the truth and he was ashamed of his life at home. Not knowing this, all the kids at school were pressuring him to tell them information about his life. By reading the other kids journals it was helpful to see how the same situation should be solved in different perspectives. Amy was going to wait untill he felt like he wanted to tell and the other kids just felt like they needed to know. Overall I felt that this book was an excellent book. I also felt that it was extreamly helpful seeing that other kids went through the same things that teenagers today are going throught and being able to read about it. This book was something that I could relate to in real life and I would highly recommed this book for anyone who likes to read suspenceful books that will always keep you guessing.

For me, Among Friends, was an eye opener. It showed the relationship of jealousy in a friendship and how it can ruin it. I too sometimes get envious of one of my friends but it has made me realize that she can't help herself. It is more of a girl book than a guy book. But by going through the 6 person perspective, you become more alert of how people take things.

While this book is rightly labelled "young adult" (i.e. it can be appreciated by anyone 13 or older in the main), it is not part of the very low league most teen fiction, such as Sweet Valley High, Sweet Dreams et al. come into; books which neither demand much from or give much back to the readers. Judging by this book on its own, I would rate Cooney as high as the great Paul Zindel for her understanding of teenagers and the typical quandaries of high school. This is surprising, as I do not look upon most of her other books (Point Romance, Cheerleaders etc.) with much regard. However, please read this one. It examines the reality of the machinations of friendship groups, without glossing over the truth. It also pleased me that Emily, the character who bared her soul, to use an awful cliche, the most and showed, I suppose, the most weakness (and on occasions the greatest strength), was fully recognised by Paul Classified in the end. Paul is another character where Cooney has diversified from the norm...if you have ever read a teen novel with a "handsome hunk" in it - the guy whom all the girls are in love with, you'll have some idea of how little substance these characters have. Every girl in the Awesome Threesome's school loves Paul, but we also grow to like him...read it, and you'll see he's far different to all the other high school hearthrobs.Cooney is brutally honest, and does not conclude the story with Jennie's insensitive parents suddenly realising their mistakes and changing...because this would never fully or truly happen after sixteen years of pressure and blindness. It does finish with the protagonist gaining a better "outlook" on life, but this is where one of the novel's few flaws is evident. How Jennie achieves her new perspective is not sufficiently explored, which is a shame as I think many of us would like to know for our own benefit.Ms. Cooney; how about making a trilogy of this one...it is, afterall, your greatest triumph.

Reading this book, "Among Friends," I could really relate. The Awesome Threesome, made up of Emily, Hillary, and Jennie, have been for friends practically forever. But Jennie is an over-achiever, and Emily and Hillary become jelous. Suddenly, when Emily and Hillary stop talking to Jennie, and Jennie stops associating with them, the Awesome Threesome may not be friendly anymore. Will Jennie, Hillary, and Emily make up? The story is told from the journals of the Awesome Threesome and their classmates, so you get to see the situation from everyone's eyes.