Among Friends [Mass Market Paperback]

Caroline B. Cooney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1988

The fall of the Awesome Threesome is the talk of the junior class. The three friends—Jennie, Emily, and Hillary—thought they’d be a trio forever. But what with Jennie’s relentless ambition, Emily’s jealousy, and Hillary’s building resentment, it seems the Awesome Threesome is over.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-12 Through journal entries, six high-school juniors reveal their jealou sies, frustrations, fears, and hopes. The plot focuses on upper-crust super- achiever Jennie Quint and a withdrawn newcomer, Paul R. Smith. Driven by parental and self-imposed pressure to succeed, Jennie is lonely, alienated from her friends. Meanwhile, Paul faces a private trauma with his unstable mother and estranged sister. When Jen nie confronts failure on a statewide honors math test, she runs away. In contrast, Paul accepts help from class mate Emily and Jared's lawyer father. Cooney again exhibits her knack for portraying the perils of success in an adolescent world. Characters speak with candor, occasional meanness, wit, and conviction. Although Cooney's Don't Blame the Music (Putnam, 1986) is a more thematically subtle and dra matic account of alienation and friend ship, Among Friends will attract secon dary readers with its fast pace, friendships and rivalries, upbeat end ing, and believable cast of characters. Gerry Larson, Chewning Junior High School, Durham, N.C.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“Well developed and fast paced.”—VOYA

“The style is breezy, accessible, and . . . readers will respond to the author’s candid view of friendship.”—Booklist

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (November 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440226929
• ISBN-13: 978-0440226925
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #619,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Cooney, Caroline B.
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Situations > Peer Pressure

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Among Friends, July 26, 2001

By 

Lee (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Among Friends (Mass Market Paperback)

Caroline B. Cooney's Among Friends is about "The Awesome Threesome." Three girls, Jennie, Hillary, and Emily have been friends for life, until high school. There are also three other students that are involved in this bok, Ansley, Jared, and Paul. Jennie excels the others nd her two closest friends get jealous. Soon after "The Awesome Threesome" comes to an end.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is in the diary style. It describes problems between friends and family. This book kept me going and I felt I could not put it down. I recommend this book to anybody who likes to read diaries. Also, people who like reading about their peers would enjoy this book. Among Friends had a lot of turning points in the story. This book often got off the main subject, but it kept me going so I could find out what was going on.

Jennie alwas has to have everything perfect. If she's not perfect, then she wouldn't be the best, the way her parents want her to be. Then there is paul 'Classified', a major topic that the girls talk about. He's a new kid and won't let anybody know anything about him, so that's how he got his nickname 'Classified.' All of the students try to figure him out. The 'supercouple' is Ansley and Jared who have been dating for a long time. Hillary and Eimily are jealous of Jennie, but then realize that they really do need their friendship with her.

This is the first time I have read Caroline B. Cooney. I really enjoy what she does and the influences that she gives young people. For example, when Hillary, Emily, and Jennie go skiing they can feel the tension between themselves but Hillary and Emily put that aside and gives Jennie a chance. I give this book a 4 star rating, for its meaning about friendship. People should read this book if they are having problems with their friends. I am sure it will help me sometime with my friends. I will always remember what all of the girls went through in this time period. Friendship to me means a lot and that is why I like this book so much. I do not think a person could go through life without having friends.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Admirable Read, December 4, 2000

By 

Stephanie (A Peachy State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Among Friends (Mass Market Paperback)

Have you ever had a best friend? Jennie, Emily, and Hillary call themselves the Awesome Threesome who had always thought that they would be friends for life. Up until the fall of their junior year in high school, the Awesome Threesome had been best friends since they were little, and never left each other's sides. Ever since entering high school, however, their friendship started to get a little shaky. For Jennie EVERYTHING had to be perfect and she had to be the center of attention all the time, Emily grew jealous of Jennie's accomplishments and perfection but tried to hide it, and Hillary was struggling to keep their friendship together. Among Friends by Caroline B. Cooney, is a fictional book that has a theme stating that sometimes having it all isn't enough. While the disintegration of the Awesome Threesome was beginning, Jennie, Emily, Hillary, "supercouple" Jared and Ansley, and classmate Paul "Classified" questioned their own goals and limitations. Jennie's excellence in everything aggravated Emily and Hillary, ruining their passionate friendship. Everyone either got annoyed or jealous with Jennie, which forced her to lose friends and self-confidence. Jennie's choice to run away worried her "ex-friends." With all the mystery and secrets Paul kept and the running away of Jennie, the friends, in spite of everything, managed to stay close. They all realized they needed each other throughout the roughest times in their lives, which is the exact point the author tried to make. This was a great book to read, especially for my age group. Among Friends makes you realized that one should forfeit important things to make their true friends utterly happy. I give this book 4 stars for it's in depth sensitivity and true meaning of a long-lasting friendships. Teens who are struggling with friendships should read this incredibly enjoyable book to help regain strength in strong companionships

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Journal of Friendship, March 11, 2005

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Among Friends (Hardcover)

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.