The Girls

by Amy Goldman Koss

Other, 2002

Status

Available

Genres

Fiction

Collection

Children's Circulating

Publication

PUFFIN (2002)

Description

Each of the girls in a middle-school clique reveals the strong, manipulative hold one of the group exerts on the others, and the hurt and self-doubt that it causes them.

User reviews

LibraryThing member isaacfellows

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).

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LibraryThing member ericarhenry

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 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.

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LibraryThing member allie_mansfield

This movie is great for teenage girls. It relates well the middle school level girls. It has a great depiction of who your real friends are. Popular vs. the real thing.

LibraryThing member macart3

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.

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LibraryThing member mmeharvey

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.

LibraryThing member Salsabrarian

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 all involved. The least insight I got was about Candace, the one person I would want to understand most about her manipulative ways.

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