Just as Long as We're Together

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Summary: One of the beat books I've ever read
Review: This book was great. I have read it about 3 times

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Summary: Is three a crowd?
Review: Best friends Stephanie and Rachel are both saddened to find that, when they compare their rosters, the only class they have together is gym. And that's only the beginning of it. Newcomer Alison is altering the once tight-knit friendship of Steph and Rachel and Rachel keeps her feelings of frustration and jealously to herself. When she finally bursts, her emotions come out all as anger, hurting both Steph and Alison.

I'd call Rachel's reaction completely normal. In the first grade, I lost one of my best friends. I saw it coming, despite being very young, because she was a grade higher than I was. A new girl in school who was in her class took my place quickly. My best friend began ignoring me on the bus and in the school halls. This rejection, how she dealt with getting rid of me, hurt all the more. But after awhile, I grew used to it and came to see that it was okay to change friends and also that the friends you have in first grade aren't always going to be with you by the time you're in fifth, or even second.

Blume, always one to address pivotal issues, speaks of puberty in terms of menstrual cycles, weight, and the body changing into that of a woman's. This story deals with the very same topics Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret did in 1970. Steph's mother is at her wits end on what to do about her daughter's weight gain, so she finally puts her on a diet. Steph deals with her imperfections - she doesn't become crazy thin, she merely becomes a healthy weight for her age and height.

Blume perfectly expresses how two friends can grow apart and how new friendships can begin. Rachel is a firm believer that you can't have more than one best friend. Steph disagrees. The question is, will their different beliefs ultimately end their friendship? The ending is a cliff-hanger. After not speaking for a total of seven weeks, Rachel expresses her hurt and jealously over Alison in a calmer and more mature fashion than her dressing room outburst. Still, we never really find out whether or not the two girls return to their best friendship status with Alison in the picture.

Blume also deals with a similar subject tackled in It's Not the End of the World. Stephanie learns that her father isn't away on business after all. He and her mother have separated - and he's got a girlfriend. Steph suspects her mother is also in a relationship.

With issues much of today's youth face, Blume has written a relatable and totally realistic novel. The characters are believable, as in all of her books. Blume knows kids and that's the bottom line. Her abilities to understand and level with them shine through in Just As Long As... I've enjoyed reading it cover to cover for years.

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Summary: Judy and her girl books are the B-O-M-B!!!!!!
Review: JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER is a book that is like ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT"S ME MARGARET except there are three friends instead of four. This book is the best. here's my summary: Stephanie Hirsh had been friends with RAchel Robinson ever since. Then a girl named Alison comes to thepicture. Living with a tv star mom, Alison becomes friends with the two. But the problem is that Stephanie is having trouble with rachel and her being friends. Then there's Jeremy "Dragon" who comes into the girls'everyday school life with another girl named Dana who has a relationship with him but having a lot of trouble and braking a lot. Well the story is about Stephanie's world. A divorce between her parents , weight problem and friendship. In order find outmoreread the story. When you are finished reading it readthe sequel from Rachel's point of view " Here's to YOU RACHEL ROBINSON". Still I think this book is better than the sequel ( 100 pages longer too).

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Summary: pretty good
Review: this book was pretty good. i am 13 and although judy blumes books are a little un realistic when kids my age are already having sex, its basically a good book, becuase it makes u feel like you know stephanie, alison and rachel.

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Summary: You can have more then 2 Friends.
Review: This book is about two best friends. They go to the same school and they have know each other for there whole lives. On there first day of school they got there schedules and found out that they only have gym class together. When Stephanie got home that day from school there was a new family that was moving in by her house. She went over there and was talking to this girl named Allison. Stephanie became to like her and loved to hang out with her. Stephanies best friend Rachel became jelous that she was spending a lot of time with this new girl, but Stephanie told Rachel that you can have more then 1 best friends.
I loved reading this book because it reminded me of when I was going to elementary school. I had one best friend and I never thought we were going to have another best friend. One day this girl came up to us and we started to like hanging around her. So I ended up have 2 best friend.
This book also taught be that you can have more then 2 friends. It was a really good book and I plan on recommending it to all of my friends to read it.