Best Friends [Paperback]

Jacqueline Wilson (Author), Nick Sharratt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Gemma and Alice have been best friends since they were both born on the same day in the same hospital. It doesn’t matter that Gemma loves soccer while Alice prefers drawing, or that Gemma is always getting into trouble while Alice is a model student and daughter. But when Alice has to move, their friendship is put to the test. They call each other and write letters, but they’re used to seeing each other every day. Can Gemma bear to celebrate her birthday without Alice? Can she stand it when Alice starts making new friends? And with Alice living hundreds of miles away, will they ever see each other again?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Gemma has always been a high-energy handful, and Alice has always been quiet and orderly—but those differences haven't stopped them from being best friends since the day they were born. Nothing will tear these two apart—except Alice's parents, who are making her move to Scotland. Gemma tries to cope, but she's overwhelmed by sadness and her fear that Alice might abandon her in favor of a new best friend. Her attempts to keep it together are complicated by her persona non grata status with Alice's parents. It takes a road trip and an incident with Alice's snooty new friend Flora to convince her that a best friend can move away without being lost forever. Wilson blends the spunk of Ramona Quimby with the impulsiveness of Joey Pigza, with the resulting disasters being about what one would expect. Gemma's emotional outbursts are understandable (if theatrical); she walks the fine line between grief-fueled temper and melodrama. If there are unsympathetic characters here, they are the girls' mothers: Gemma's mother's attempts at reassurance are to tell her daughter that she'll make new friends and will forget all about Alice; Alice's mother is pleased that the move separates the girls as she considers Gemma a bad influence. Readers will appreciate the reassurance that it's perfectly okay to feel sad and angry when a friend moves away.—Brandy Danner, Wilmington Memorial Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

When Alice’s family decides to move to Scotland, 500 miles away, Gemma is devastated. Although completely different from each other, the girls have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They even share a birthday. Alice, always the girly-girl, enjoys the turmoil that surrounds Gemma, who barrels through life. Wilson, a former British Children’s Laureate, once again shows her understanding and respect for her young readers’ feelings and abilities. Most of the older characters assure the girls that they will soon recover and find new friends; others, including Gemma’s grandfather and supportive brothers, respect the friends’ grief and help them stay in touch. It is the girls themselves, though, who find ways to reassure each other that their friendship will last. A page of small cartoons illustrating important events introduces each chapter. Believable, sympathetic characters; recognizable home and school situations; and plenty of humor (including some of the cake-in-the-face sort) will ensure that this becomes, like Wilson’s other titles, a popular read for middle-grade girls. Grades 4-7. --Kathleen Isaacs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish; Reprint edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312581440
• ISBN-13: 978-0312581442
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Friends Forever, June 2, 2005

By 

John (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Friends (Paperback)

"Best Friends" is a book about 2 girls, Gemma and Alice, who are about 11 years old. Gemma and Alice have been BEST FRIENDS FOREVER! Even though they are completely different, it doesn't keep them from being the best of friends. They share everything from toys and games to deep dark secrets. But Alice is hiding something from her and Gemma found it out because she read Alice's diary. It's a secret and Alice doesn't want anyone to know, but she never knew it could ruin their friendship.

"Best Friends" is a great book for kids who like realistic books and is for the ages 9-12. It is an excellent book because it has a twist in the ending. Be sure to put this book on your book list.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and fun, July 7, 2009

By 

M. Knapp "Maggie Knapp" (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best Friends (Hardcover)

English school girls Gemma (sporty, a little loud, a little clumsy) and Alice (girly, pretty and sweet) are best friends despite their somewhat opposite personalities. When Alice has to move away the friendship undergoes some rough times.

It's fun to read about these two pre-teens. The story is warm and humorous without being overly sweet, and the drawings at the start of each chapter are very cute. The book shows how friendships can change and grow as the people themselves change. Great supporting characters, too. If you like this book, author Jacqueline Wilson is a prolific writer, with many award- winning books to her name.