The title may lead readers to expect a contemporary tale; instead, McKissack chronicles the events of 1954 and 1955, a tumultuous time in the life of 12-year-old Rosemary Patterson. After a care-free summer, Rosemary begins sixth grade in an integrated school, one of only a few African-American students. At home she copes with the disintegration of her parents’ marriage and nurses an injured cat back to life. Using first-person narration, McKissack creates a convincing portrait of a young girl’s experiences. Young readers may find Rosemary’s narration stilted at times, but McKissack’s style clearly evokes the more formal world of the 1950s. Ironically, the friendship referred to in the title is the least interesting aspect of the narrative. Rosemary is such a strong character that readers won’t be surprised when previously prejudiced Grace Hamilton recognizes her worth. This simply told story will leave readers pondering our progress—or lack thereof—in race relations over the past 50 years. (Fiction. 9-12)
