Class Pictures

by Marilyn Sachs

Follows two girls through the years, Pat--who remains the most popular--and Lolly--who starts as "fat little Lolly" and winds up "most beautiful"

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[BrandyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 5th grade, in the 80’s, and I’m giving it 4 stars based on my middle school opinion. I just loved it, and it was a fave of mine for a couple of years.

[HeavyReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only remember this book because of a description someone gave of it on a thread in the What's the Name of That Book??? group.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

Joanie said, "Don't the two girls meet when they're little and Pat bites Lolly's cheek because it's red and round and looks like an apple?" I totally remember that cheek biting incident, but that's all.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pat and Lolly didn't start out as best friends. In fact, when they met in kindergarten, the first thing Pat did was bite Lolly. Things improved, however, and their friendship continued--with some rocky patches--all the way through their senior year of high school. Pat tells the story with one chapter per year. She follows her strapped-for-cash, single-parent family in which her grandmother is raising Pat and her brothers because their feckless mother--who later admits she doesn't even know who Pat's father is--isn't interested in being an adult. Lolly's family, on the other hand, is wealthy and tidy and Lolly's mother doesn't entirely approve of Pat, until Pat gets into the gifted class in fourth grade (Pat hates it). Things change in seventh grade--as they usually do--with Pat discovering her love of science, and Lolly becoming beautiful. Throughout, Pat continues her friendship with her mentor and third grade teacher Mr. Evans, who never fails to encourage her. Will they stay friends as they grow so different?

Someone recommended this to me, and I thought it was a good, realistic character and friendship study. I was never really sure where it was going; it was almost more memoir than fiction, with things just happening and not necessarily leading to anything in particular. It does represent well the ups and downs of friendship through the various developmental stages, and how you can dislike or feel ambivalent about a best friend more often than you'd like to admit. It's also a good portrait of how Pat's family functions and how she feels about it. Overall, though, I just didn't love it. I didn't love the characters and thus wasn't too invested in what would happen to them. I think this would be a tough sell to kids today, having been published in the early 1980s.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a unique background to work from but didn't turn out very interesting. It tells the story of a friendship between two unlikely friends through their school pictures. It seemed like the author began interesting, in-depth character plots but didn't take them anywhere. The end seemed a little rushed and unexciting. It was a mediocre story that seemed to have so much more potential.

[Nawar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book; however, I can’t help but feel like it could have been better, it had the potential to be so. I’d rated it 3 stars because it made me feel nostalgic even though this was my first read. It reminded me of my own childhood friends and the similar dynamics we had— something that affected my childhood heavily but now I’ve learned to look back at it fondly.

[Maya Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

to this day, this book is one of my favorites i have EVER read. class pictures explains so many intricacies to lifelong friendships, family issues, and fighting to fit in as you grow up. i never hesitate to pick this book up.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I spent six dollars to find out if this was a much-loved book I read in high school, having forgotten the title and author. It wasn’t.

[lucie · Rating 2 out of 5]

got it for free from a used bookstore, and it was worth the money I spent (see what I did there?)

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8th grade self wrote in my diary that this was “an excellent book.”

[Mell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite from my junior high years. This addresses how issues like class and income impact friendships.

[Aldrin]

it is so good!!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. I read it when I was in 7th Grade, it's very relatable. As you grow up, you tend to grow apart from your best friend. People change, but you'll always remember your friendship.

[Kirstie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book in Junior high. I've read it so many times over that the cover is falling apart.

[Dorcas · Rating 2 out of 5]

twas not bad...it reminded me of my best friend though....took a week to read it...it however lacks some literature boost..twas a good trial

[Julie Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book broke my heart when I was a young girl. I felt it had been written just for me. I love it still.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

three stars for nostalgia. there are still some enjoyable moments, but it's very likely you can't recapture the 13 year old excitement of reading a book when you're 42.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this first as a kid and just reread it as an adult. Great story of a friendship's twists and turns.