SOLVED. YA 3 friends who drift apart, one is an overachieving genius [s]

[Lauren]

I read this in the 90's, but I read a lot of YA books from the 80s and 70s too.

Three high school friends drift apart. They're all very different... The over acheiver writes a Christmas musical and cracks under pressure while taking a test. I think the brunette gets a boyfriend.

One memorable scene they braid their hair together (they all have different color hair) and walk three across down the hall of school, making ppl get out of their way

[Kate]

Lauren, I'm moving your post to the Unsolved folder where it will get more attention.

[Rachel]

I think this is Among Friends It definitely has the hair braid scene and Jennie is the genius.

[Liralen]

Seconding Among Friends. Jennie's taking some big test or something that she won't really be qualified for until the next year (but she's trying to be a star—there might be some kind of title involving a star that she's vying for), and when she starts the test she realises that she can't actually do the math part. (view spoiler)[She considers cheating but ends up running away by bus instead. (hide spoiler)]

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lauren is still looking for this:

I read this book in the mid 90s but I read a lot of YA books written before then. Three teen girls grow up as best friends. They have distinctly different color hair... In one scene they walk down the hall with their hair braided together and o remember wondering how that is physically possible. They start to grow apart... I think one gets a job and one gets a boyfriend. For sure one is a super overachiever who writes a Christmas musical, then totally loses her mind and snaps when taking the SATs. She runs away but then comes back.

So Lauren, was "Among Friends" your book?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response. Moving to Solved.