Audio of the Week: The Secret Language of Girls
RSSFrom SLJ November 2004
Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT -- School Library Journal, 10/18/2004
(unabr.) 3 cassettes or 4 CDs. 3:52 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (www.library.booksontape.com). 2004. cassette, ISBN 0-4000-8505-5: $30; CD, ISBN 1-4000-8985-9: $35.
Gr 4-8-Frances O'Roark Dowell reveals The Secret Language of Girls (Atheneum, 2004) in this perfect-for-preteens story about long time friends, Kate and Marilyn. Entering middle school, these sixth graders have the usual worries about popularity and boys, along with concerns about a new girl on their street who seems determined to split up the old friends. When Marilyn becomes a cheerleader and Kate pursues her interest in basketball, the two find themselves at different lunch tables and often out of touch. Though the girls realize their paths are diverging, they continue to care about one another and look to each other for comfort when they face health and divorce problems in their own families. Michele Santopietro's narration flows smoothly from adolescent inner musings to mature mom with questions, and the sound quality is good. While this audiobook will be most appealing to a female audience, guys may gain valuable insights from this accurate look into the minds and hearts of middle school girls. Filling the contemporary fiction niche nicely, it's a solid choice for middle school and public libraries.
