From the Bookshelf of Tyler Public Library…

[close] Friendships made in childhood often seem closer and more important than friendships we form later in life. Those childhood friendships seem so secure, so safe, & at the same time, so freeing because we are completely at ease and trusting that we are truly known. Those who know us the best have often known us the longest. Julia and Cassie, friends since nursery school, are inseparable until adolescence, when their long friendship begins to falter and fade. I think perhaps there is nothing sadder than the loss of a strong friendship, especially when you don't know the cause of the encroaching distance. On the cusp of adolescence, Cassie and Julia find it increasingly difficult to communicate meaningfully. Messud asks the reader to consider how well we know ourselves and if we can ever really know another soul completely. The Burning Girl is mesmerizing and deeply thought- provoking. The story of friendship between two young girls may seem simple on the surface, but in Messuds' hands, the questions this novel asks are fresh and evocative. "Growing up and being a girl is about learning to be afraid." There is much to ponder in this slim novel; don't miss it! Highly recommended for all.