Friends, Enemies [Paperback]

Rosie Rushton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Tory and her friends Pippa, Ella and Christy have been friends forever -but things are about to change. When Hannah moves to their neighborhood, Tory's mom insists that the girls include her in their group. Tory can't stand the idea of hanging out with whiny, babyish Hannah, and the other girls are equally apprehensive. But this unwelcome guest turns out to be worse than annoying--she's dangerous. Hannah is bent on sabotaging Tory's friendships, and her burgeoning relationship with cute Alex. Now, Tory's will have to convince everyone, including her own mother, that the new girl isn't nearly as innocent as she appears to be.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 - Four friends are undecided about whether or not they should include the new girl, Hannah, in their group. When Tory invites the newcomer to her 14th birthday party at her mother's insistence, Hannah begins to spread rumors among the girls. They believe the half-truths about one another, and in turn doubt their friendships. Hannah is able to smooth things over, but continues to stir up trouble. The truth about Hannah's behavior is eventually revealed: her father has been imprisoned, leaving her devastated. Narrated by Tory, the story touches upon the struggle between loyalty and honesty among friends and the need to treat outsiders with sympathy, themes that will ring true for many readers. The plot snaps along at as brisk a pace as the characters' lives: everyone has a cell phone and rumors spread quickly. The relationships are strong and realistic. While the use of British terms and slang might confuse some readers, this novel will appeal to those who like contemporary stories of friendship. - Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-8. Fourteen-year-old Tory is charged with seeing that Hannah, the new girl in school, feels welcome. As Tory's mother tells her, "It costs nothing to be nice to people." But keeping moody, inscrutable Hannah entertained while maintaining bosom friendships and working toward dating boys is draining. Is the real Hannah just a vulnerable, "shy little thing" with a painful past? Or is she a "two-faced, manipulative" vixen who intentionally tells half-truths to sabotage Tory's closest relationships? British author Rushton puts a refreshing spin on the "mean girls" theme, complicating the cliched dynamic between powerful clique and victimized outsider. The result is a thought-provoking psychological mystery, capped with a climax and a denouement that will leave readers pondering the circumstances of Hannahs in their own lives. A plot point involving self-mutilation feels tacked on, and readers who look to realistic fiction for accurate reflections of their lives may find the British context distracting. Others, however, will appreciate this nuanced portrayal of adolescent friendship--and the honest exploration of its limits. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (June 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786851783
• ISBN-13: 978-0786851782
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,634,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Ashley's Review, September 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Friends, Enemies (Paperback)

I really liked this book because it's about girls my age going through the drama of teenage life. When they are in a tight group of friends and another girl wants to become one of them, but all of the girls in the group don't like her, then that's a problem.
It's about a group of girls that go through friend problems. In the beginning all of the girls were really good friends but Tory's mom told her that she should become friends with the new girl, Hannah. Tory and her friends try to become friends with Hannah, but they can't. She isn't like them. Hannah has nothing in common with them, and she acts a little weird. They finally become friends and find out that Hannah only acts weird because her parents got into a divorce.
I recommend this book to girls from ages 10 to adult because it is a book about growing up.