Some Friend [Paperback]

Marie Bradby (Author)

Book Description

Finding a friend isn't easy.

Especially when there aren't many kids age eleven in your neighborhood. Being a friend is even harder. In Pearl's neighborhood Lenore is everyone's friend of choice. She has her hair straightened and curled at a real beauty shop, her own pink phone, and a canopy bed. The most Pearl hopes for is to be included as one of Lenore's followers.

Then outcast Artemesia comes into Pearl's life. Artemesia is everything Pearl dreams of being -- a dancer and an artist. But then Lenore makes it clear she can't stand Artemesia, Pearl does the worst thing possible.

And she still hasn't got a friend.

Or has she?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7--A somewhat predictable but affecting coming-of-age story about the consequences of hanging out with the "wrong crowd." Set in 1960s Maryland, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the story centers on an 11-year-old African-American girl who is desperate to find a friend. Exactly why Pearl is friendless isn't quite clear, because she comes across as a thoughtful and intelligent child. She is thrilled when beautiful and popular Lenore starts including her in social activities, even if Lenore manipulates her into lying and wearing too much makeup. Pearl also wants to be friends with Artemesia, who's talented and interesting and introduces her to wondrous things like art. But Artemesia also happens to be poor, and that doesn't sit well with Lenore and her crowd. They label Artemesia a "creepy girl" and worse. Pearl knows they're wrong, but isn't brave enough to stand up for her. During the climactic confrontation, Pearl watches helplessly as Artemesia is cruelly attacked by the popular girls. The following day, she discovers that Artemesia has left town for good. Pearl is left to ponder the consequences of her inaction, and mourn the loss of the one person who truly was her friend.--Ronni Krasnow, New York Public Library
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

Gr. 4-8. Growing up in Fairfax, Virginia, in the early 1960s, 11-year-old African American Pearl is vaguely aware of prejudice around her, and she's jealous that her older brother gets to go with Daddy to the March on Washington. Her focus, however, is really on family and friends. She wants to hang out with Lenore and the cool girls, who know about clothes and stuff and who take her to the recently integrated roller rink. They jeer at the new migrant worker kid, Artemisia, who wears Goodwill clothes and helps her mom clean houses at night. Pearl really likes Artemisia, who is a gifted artist and dancer, and they have fun together, but when the girls taunt the newcomer and beat her up, Pearl does nothing, to her everlasting shame. Artemisia is too good, especially in contrast with the demonized, privileged Lenore, but Pearl's first-person narrative is absolutely true to the viewpoint of the child, suddenly forced to confront issues of loyalty and betrayal. The bullying is a dramatic way to show the politics of class and prejudice, then and now. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416934529
• ISBN-13: 978-1416934523
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 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: #1,192,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Friendship, September 20, 2009

By 

Melissa Yoshioka - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Some Friend (Paperback)

The book "Some Friend" by Marie Bradby takes place in Fairfax, Virginia. The year is 1963. Pearl Jordan and her family live in an African American community during the time when "Negros" weren't fully accepted. Because they are African American, their lives aren't the same as others in the country. One thing that is the same is that 11-year-old Pearl wants a friend.
Pearl's first pick would be Lenore, the most popular girl in school. Lenore has her own phone, gets her hair straightened, has a big group of friends, and has her own room with a canopy bed; everything that Pearl wants. Surprisingly, Lenore is befriending Pearl and soon they are best friends. Pearl's mom doesn't approve of their friendship because Lenore is getting Pearl in trouble. Then Artemesia comes along. She is a quiet and shy girl that mainly keeps to herself. Artemesia's amazing artistic talents and way of modern dancing makes up for the fact that her family doesn't have a lot of money. Everyone in Pearl's family loves Artemesia and the fun-loving personality she has.
The only problem with Pearl being friends with both Lenore and Artemesia, is that Lenore doesn't like Artemesia. One night things get out of hand. Lenore makes Artemesia cry, rips her dress, and chases her back to the apartment that her family is renting. Pearl doesn't know how to stand up to Lenore so she just watches it all go down. The next day, Pearl goes to Artemesia's apartment to apologize, but Artemesia had moved out of the town. Pearl feels really guilty about not doing anything that night, and now she can't even try to patch up the friendship because Artemesia is gone.
Pearl spends the rest of the summer alone, not talking to anyone outside of her family. When school starts up again, Gee, a bully, suddenly starts to be nice to her. At first Pearl is hesitant to trust Gee but in time she learns that Gee doesn't mean any harm and really isn't that tough. Pearl has made enough mistakes with friendship in the past that she knows what to do and what not to do in a good friendship. She stands up for Gee in a fight against some of Lenore's followers, and feels good about herself. In return, Gee is a good friend to Pearl. They help each other with homework, tell each other about their plans for the future, and Gee helps Pearl celebrate her 12th birthday. Pearl Jordan has learned what it means to be a true friend.

Submitted by: Seanna Yoshioka

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful coming-of-age tale, May 18, 2004

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Some Friend (Hardcover)

It's 1953 in Fairfax, Virginia, and for eleven-year-old Pearl Jordan, finding a friend has always been difficult because there aren't many kids her age in the neighborhood. Along with everyone else, she wants Lenore to be her friend. Lenore gets her hair done at a salon, has her own phone, fancy bedroom and two close friends, Nadine and Ce-Ce. But Pearl can only dream about those special things since her hair is still braided and she must share a room with her older sister Diana and her pesky little sister Angela.

One day, though, Pearl finally gets her wish: Lenore asks her to be her friend! She gladly accepts the offer.

The friendship starts off great, but Pearl soon discovers that Lenore isn't as friendly as she seemed. She steals, pressures Pearl into doing dangerous things, and makes fun of the other kids, including Pearl's new friend Artemesia. Pearl and Artemesia have a lot in common. They like to dance and draw, and Artemesia has siblings too. Pearl soon starts getting into trouble and her mother doesn't want her to be friends with Lenore anymore, but Pearl doesn't listen.

Then one night, Pearl does the unthinkable to Artemesia that may cost her their friendship. Will Artemesia forgive her? Will Pearl stop being friends with Lenore?

Author Marie Bradby, through her powerful coming-of-age tale, conveys to readers how to act appropriately in life. SOME FRIEND reminds me that I should never take my friendships for granted --- because I might lose them someday.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub