The Secret Language of Girls

Kate and Marylin had been best friends since before preschool but recently they seemed to be on different wave lengths as they both explore being on the threshold of becoming a teen. What do girls mean when they write in code in their diaries? When do girls stop playing imaginary games and take up fashion as a hobby? Why does everything come down to boys? And when will the first kiss happen? These are all questions that Kate and Marylin need to answer as they go through this pivotal year.

I found The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell a delightful, thoughtful read and my enjoyment was enhanced by reading this book with my eleven year old granddaughter. She really got into this book, and enjoyed rooting for her favorite show more character. Many of the issues raised in the book, I could see that my granddaughter could relate to. And although both these girls took different routes through this first year at middle school, they eventually found that giving in to peer pressure wasn’t the best route to choose. They also found that even though you have grown apart, when you really need them a true friend will be there.

I think The Secret Language of Girls is a great read for girls aged 11-12, especially if they too, are learning that friendships do change, evolve into something different or simply just end. The author, Frances O’Roark Dowell, did a great job of bringing these girls to life and showing that although they developed different interests they could still come together and be good friends and confidants to each other. show less

Dowell gets middle grade girls and their friendships, with all the ups and downs. Kate and Marilyn have been best friends forever, but in sixth grade they start going their separate ways and learn more about themselves in the process. The secondary characters are well drawn, and the whole story is engaging and enjoyable, although I wasn't knocked out by the person who narrated the audio version. Her "Kate" voice just didn't do it for me.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

They've been friends forever, but now they are in sixth grade and something is going wrong.

This is the story of many friendships. Anyone who has felt their best friend drifting away will appreciate THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF GIRLS.

Kate and Marylin considered each other BFFs, but as sixth grade begins, their friendship is on a downhill slide. First there's Flannery, the worldly seventh grader who moves in down the street. Flannery mysteriously chooses Marylin over Kate, and the slide begins. Marylin and Flannery refuse to speak to Kate and hurl nasty insults her way practically every day.

Eventually, Flannery starts hanging out with eighth grade girls and leaves Marylin wondering show more what happened. It seems like the perfect time for Kate to renew their friendship, but Marylin tries out for and makes the cheerleading squad, and those new friends are just as mean as Flannery. They claim they don't have time for Kate, who isn't allowed to use makeup and prefers basketball to cheerleading.

Below the surface of the girls' new acquaintances, both spend time puzzling over how things have gotten so out of control. They both consider confronting the difficult topic, but neither wants to risk rejection.

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF GIRLS offers middle grade readers a chance to experience a crumbling friendship that might very well be like experiences of their very own. This book examines the idea that we often know the right thing to do, but we don't have the courage to take a step in that direction. show less

Kate and Marilyn have been best friends since they were little kids, but now they're starting 6th grade and things are changing. Kate wonders when Marilyn started getting so interested in makeup and cheerleading. Marilyn wonders when Kate will start to grow up. Told in vignettes throughout their sixth grade year, The Secret Language of Girls alternates points of view between Kate and Marilyn (with a little bit of Marilyn's brother Petey thrown in for good measure).

This is a coming-of-age story reminiscent of the Judy Blume books I so loved when I was a tween. The narration is clear and the slight variation of voices helps the listener differentiate between characters without getting in the way of the quietly touching story.

show more target="_top">http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/02/audiobook-review-secret-language-of.html show less

"The secret language of girls" was such a great book.....I couldn't put it down!! After reading this book I found out about the 2nd book, "The kind of friends we used to be" and i couldn't wait to read it! Anyways, "the secret language of girls" is a book about two friends named Marilyn & Kate, and how their friendship grew apart. First, Kate noticed Marilyn start to act different: she changed the spelling of her name to "Marylin" instead of "Marilyn" because she thought it was too old fashioned. Then, she started hanging out with Flannery(their new neighbor who was a year older than them) and began to ignore Kate completely. Will they ever get their friendship back on track? Or will Marylin be stuck in Flannery-world forever? This book show more may sound boring, but I found it to be really interesting and exciting...its much more than you think it is!! show less

Marylin and Kate have been friends since nursery school, but when Marylin becomes a middle school cheerleader and Kate begins to develop other interests, their relationship is put to the test. The language and relationship problems described will ring true for many girls starting out in middle school. There's a satisfactory although none too neat ending.

The Secret Language of Girls (Dowell)
This is the story of Kate her best friend Marilyn. The girls have been best friends until Flannery moves into town and drives a wedge between them. Although the girls continually care about one another, they have difficulty relating to one another. Their interests split as Kate makes the basketball team and Marilyn becomes a cheerleader. Kate becomes best friends with a new girl who ends up moving. When Marilyn finds herself going through a hard time at home because of her parents divorce, she seeks out Kate to help her through the bad times. Cute story but typical of the genre.