The Secret Language of Girls [Hardcover]

Frances O'Roark Dowell (Author)

Book Description

In the old days, when Kate had no interest in romance, she never cared what other people thought. Now, it appeared, love was turning her into a rotten human being.

Eleven-year-old Kate Faber wishes she could talk to her best friend Marylin about this. But Marylin is no longer her best friend. Or is she? Kate and Marylin had always been the kind of best friends who lived on the same block for their entire lives and who could agree on the kind of boys worth kissing (only movie stars) or who should be invited to their sleepover (definitely not Mazie Calloway or Elinor Pritchard). The kind of best friends who didn't need words to talk, but who always just knew.

But lately Marylin has started to think that Kate can be a bit babyish. And Kate thinks that Marylin is acting like a big snob. And a lot of the time, well, it feels as though they just don't know each other anymore. Somehow nothing is the same, but secretly Kate and Marylin both wish that it could be....

Edgar Award-winning author Frances O'Roark Dowell explores how far the bonds of true friendship can be stretched as Kate and Marylin struggle to navigate the inexplicable terrain of sixth grade.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Kate and Marylin have been best friends forever. The 11-year-olds begin to drift apart, however, when manipulative Flannery moves into the neighborhood. Partly motivated by unhappiness and insecurity, the older girl influences the passive Marylin to turn against Kate. Marylin joins the cheerleader crowd while Kate eventually gravitates toward classmates who don't follow the herd. Told from various points of view, including those of characters closely involved with the events as well as others on the periphery, the story follows these girls as they struggle with hurt feelings, peer pressure, acceptance, and self-image. Although Marylin believes Kate to be totally immature, it is ironically Kate who ends up romantically involved with a slightly geeky boy who appreciates her kindness and growing sense of self-worth. Flannery grows increasingly disconnected, but Kate learns to stand up to peer pressure. Her hard-won self-possession serves her well when she is the target of a mean prank in which Marylin participates; the tide turns, and kids will admire Kate's handling of the situation. Perhaps a bit unbelievably, the book ends with the repentant Marylin phoning her ex-best friend. Excellent characterization, an accurate portrayal of the painful and often cruel machinations of preteens, and evocative dialogue will make this tale resonate with most readers, who will see themselves and some of their peers in its pages.
B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Kate and Marylin have always been the kind of best friends who don't need words to talk to one another; they always just knew what the other was thinking. But lately it's starting to feel as though they don't know each other at all anymore. Marylin decides Kate (who still chases fireflies!) still acts like a baby, while Kate doesn't understand Marylin's new obsession with painting her toenails or wanting to be a cheerleader (and becoming on eof those people who only thinks about her hair!). And even though, secretly, they both wish things could be the way they were, neither one of them know how to get back there. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689844212
• ISBN-13: 978-0689844218
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Frances O'Roark Dowell is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Dovey Coe, which won the Edgar Award, Where I'd Like to Be, the bestselling The Secret Language of Girls, and its sequel The Kind of Friends We Used to Be, Chicken Boy, Shooting the Moon, which was awarded the Christopher Medal, and most recently Falling In. She lives with her husband and two sons in Durham, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Review by Girl Scout Troop 888, February 26, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Secret Language of Girls (Hardcover)

The Bond of 2 Friends
This book is about 2 girls, Kate and Marilyn, who have been best friends since pre-school and get split up in 6th grade by Flannery. Flannery, a 7th grader, is new to school and the girl's neighborhood. Marilyn and Flannery become friends and leave Kate out. This story is a journey of two friends that get separated and try to learn the true meaning of friendship. We think the true hero of this book was Petey, Marilyn's little brother. Most of us liked Kate or Paisley the best but we liked that Flannery knew what she wanted and was strong and we liked that Marilyn tried to be friends with everyone. We think a better title to this book might be "The Bond Between Two Friends" or "The 6th Grade War". We think this book is at a 6th grade reading level. We think that if you read at a 3rd - 5th grade level you will need your Mom or Dad to help you read it plus it is pretty long. The chapter, Kiss, was kinda gross. Some 8 to 9 year olds might think this chapter about kissing is gross and your Mom might think it is inappropriate for you. You could actually skip this chapter and not miss much of the book. The rest of the book was pretty good. If you are old enough then you might like this chapter but 3rd graders DID NOT. We read this in our Book Club and some girls really liked it, others were not allowed to read it at all - their Moms didn't think it was appropriate and others just covered their ears for some parts they thought were gross. Overall those of us that read the book thought it was good, interesting and emotional. (...)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Secret Language of Girls, May 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Secret Language of Girls (Paperback)

This book is a heartwarming tale about family and friendship. In the story "The Secret Language of Girls" an eleven year old girl named Kate is ignored by her best friend Marylin and twelve year old neighbor Flannery. Kate and Marylin go their separate ways and go on small adventures without each other but in the end realize that friendship is what they need most, and there are other friends they don't want to keep. I recommend this book to girls of all ages. The names of the characters were confusing at times, but overall I give this book a thumbs up and a four star rating. I loved this book because it taught me a lot about friendship and how valuable it really is. I hope all girls will enjoy this book, and will recommend it to other girls. I thank Frances O'Roark Dowell for writing such a wonderful story.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Novel About Changing Friendships, June 29, 2004

By 

Miranda "superbookchick" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Language of Girls (Hardcover)

Kate's a bit of "late bloomer." She's not really interested in kissing boys, piercing her ears, or trying out for cheerleading. Her best friend, Marilyn, is all of sudden into all of those things. The arrival of the ultra-hip Flannery makes matters worse for Kate. The book follows Kate and Marilyn through sixth grade as they cope with changes in their lives and in their friendship. As they both come into their own, Kate's musings on which of them is really the late bloomer are truly valuable.

Honestly, the book isn't perfect: it's poorly organized and doesn't have a very strong plot line. The family issues both girls experience are just touched upon and the book could have been roudned out by incorporating these issues more in the story. However, this is the best book I've read about girls and the social pressures and changes experienced in junior high. It gives the reader a good look at both independant Kate's and cheerleader Marilyn's sides of the experience and throws in just enough light romance to make you sigh. I'd happpily hand this to any 4th, 5th or 6th grade girl.