The Secret Language of Girls [Audio Cassette]

Frances O'Roark Dowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2004

Recommended for listeners 13 and up.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Listening Library (2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400085055
• ISBN-13: 978-1400085057
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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.