The Kind of Friends We Used to Be

December 8, 2008
This sequel to Dowell's The Secret Language of Girls
follows Marylin and Kate as they start seventh grade on a tense note, having drifted from being BFFs to being neighbors who tiptoe around each other, unsure of what to say. The third-person perspective shifts between the two: Marylin learns that being a cheerleader means putting up with obnoxious snobs, and Kate develops an interest in songwriting. This even-handedness is both a strength and a weakness. Both girls are sympathetic but the constant switching back and forth between their various crises—Marylin's parents' divorce; Kate's anxiety over a cute boy in her creative writing club—means neither girl's story gets substantial treatment. It's more a slice of middle school life, kept afloat by Dowell's smart insights into the way the middle school mind works. The territory is familiar, but for girls on either end of a friendship whose contours keep changing, Dowell's treatment will act as a balm. Ages 8–12.

A wistful narration illuminates this drama of middle school friendship. In alternating sections, Kate and Marilyn tell how their friendship is merging into a new understanding. Jessica Almasy's soft voice works well for the extended internal musings of the two girls. Almasy conveys their hurt feelings and confusion with a defensive vocal tone. Listeners will also hear the anger between the girls in Almasy's hard-edged tones. The story would be better if the characters' voices were more distinctive. Upon occasion, it's difficult to tell which girl is speaking. While the production holds no surprises, it's buoyed up by a consistent narration. Almasy's carefully crafted atmosphere will appeal to middle school girls. C.A. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine