The Girls

It’s rare to get the Mean Girls’ point of view portrayed sensitively. Which makes sense for the victimized target readership — I think most kids feel victimized at some point in middle school. But as a teacher, even as I hate what the bullies are doing, they’re still 12-year-old girls and my heart goes out to them. They’re behaving that way for a reason, and I wonder if it might help to recognize themselves in a book where they can also see their victims’ perspective? (Full review at http://www.parenthetical.net/2011/04/23/review-the-girls-amy-goldman-koss-2000/)

Narrated by cast. Maya thought she had the greatest friends in the world: Brianna, Renee, Darcy and their popular, trend-setting leader, Candace. So she has no idea why they have suddenly shunned her and didn't invite her to Darcy's sleepover. Individual narratives presented by each of the girls provide the differing perspectives on the cruelty of middle school girl cliques. When Brianna is shunned by Candace, she, Maya and Renee realize they've been trapped by Candace's pettiness and opinion-swaying and they declare themselves free. In the meantime, Candace has decided to bring Nicole into her inner circle...We see differing perspectives on the Maya situation from each of the girls and see how exclusion and teasing can bring pain to show more all involved. The least insight I got was about Candace, the one person I would want to understand most about her manipulative ways. show less

I thought this was probably the most realistic book I've ever read about all of the drama and cruelty middle school girls create. I think every girl can identify with at least one of the characters. Every school has a Candace - a girl that all of the other girls envy and want to be friends with, but really is a snobby, selfish girl who is a terrible friend. Everyone has seen Maya and Brianna - girls that are now shunned by their "group" and are scared to be alone for the fear of what the other girls will say to them next. Hopefully everyone also knows a Renee - a genuine, nice girl who doesn't put up with all of the snobbiness of the "leader". This book was very entertaining. I think it's a good one for every young girl to read. Girls show more that age tend to turn on each other for any little thing and I think this book can help them to see that they aren't alone. It was a great read. Not for the younger grades, but great for middle schoolers. show less

The Girls takes me into the complex social world of five middle school girls. It's engrossing; I read it in an afternoon. Some chapters are actually quite poetic in their choices of imagery, allowing rapid deep characterization; I'm thinking here of Candace's considerations of fire and sequoias. Great read-- never preachy despite content (politics of exclusion).

This novel would work well as a library dramatic read with a different reader for each of the parts.

In junior high, everything revolves around your friends - your clique. But if what if that clique lets you go? One by one, popularity queen Candace rejects each of her friends for ambiguous reasons, simultaneously branding each as a friendless leper. Koss tells this story of cruelty from the perspective of all five "friends," showing how ruthless the most wealthy, suburban schools can be. Any girl who has dealt with rejection will recognize herself in those whom Candace condemns. Recommended for ages 11-14.

Awards:
New York Public Library's Best Books for the Teenage List 2001
ALA-YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks
IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award 2001
IRA-YA Choices 2002
2003-2004 Land of Enchantment
2003-2004 Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Minnesota's show more Children's Choice for grades 3-5 and 6-8)
2003 Garden State Teen Book Awards show less

Maya is a girl who has been ousted out of her group of friends by the desicion of the ringleader, Candance. The other three girls follow suit.

This book is a study of the four girls' feelings when they decide to snub one of their friends based on the whim of the dominant girl. It is a wonderfully written book that is realistic, shows the thought processes of each of the girls, and Ms. Koss does not rely on cliches to get her point across.

This book is told from the point of view of four different girls in grade seven. It is a realistic portrayal of the challenges and social difficulties young girls face. Reminiscent of Mean Girls, I would recommended this text as a must read for all middle school students-not just girls.