Life Without Friends

by Ellen Emerson White

Book Overview

After the drug-overdose death of a fellow student, Beverly breaks away from the fast crowd but finds herself friendless and full of guilt until she meets Derek who helps her come to terms with the past and look with some hope to the future.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590338293
• ISBN13: 9780590338295
• Release Date: December 1988
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Beverly's Life Long Friend

I discovered this book about 8 years ago in my library's discarded book bin. I was a little disturbed by the Red Sox hat the girl was wearing on the cover, but it was only $0.10, so I got it anyway. Within two hours, I had discovered my favorite book. I have a nice hardback and two paperback copies that I have purchased, scared that I might lose one. I have never read a book so many times, and I carry one with me when I travel because the story is so familiar and comforting. I highly recommend ANYTHING by Ellen Emerson White, for anyone over 12 or so. I am 21 now, and the story still captivates me.

What Would Happen If You Were A Killer's Girlfriend?

Beverly is a typical seventeen year old teenager who lives with her father (a Harvard professor), her stepmother (a "hippie child") and her stepbrother Oliver, an adorable 5 year-old. She goes to an upscale private school and used to date one of the handsomest, most popular guys in school. She gets straight A's and is at the top of her class. The only problem is, she is a witness for the prosecution at the trial of her ex-boyfriend for murdering a girl at school and attempting to murder two other students.This book tells the story of how Beverly tries to live a "Life without Friends" because she feels that she doesn't deserve them. She often wishes that her ex-boyfriend had killed her instead so that she wouldn't have to put her family through the spectacle of a murder trial. However, she accidentally meets a guy in the park named Derek and becomes friends with him. Beverly is very scared of trying to love someone again and pushes Derek away every chance she gets, but she really likes being around him... Eventually, Beverly & Derek do get together and Ellen Emerson White takes us through Beverly's changing relationship with her father, her stepmother, her new boyfriend and her psychologist and shows us that there are always people who love you, no matter what happens.Although this book is written for teens and children, I think that it is wonderful and I have read and re-read it many times. Beverly is such a likeable character and most girls will identify with her low self-esteem and her desire to change her life. The characters are well developed and fun to get to know. I especially enjoyed Beverly and her interaction with the people around her. She has an offbeat sense of humor and often makes the reader laugh during the telling of the story. I highly recommend this book for any female who is looking for a nice romance with a more serious undertone.

I LOVE THIS BOOK

It's my favorite book ever! The characters are so relistic, you just want to hang out with them. Ellen Emerson White is such a great auther I have read other books by her. Beverly and Derek are so funny! I love part at the movie and on the swan boats. I've been Boston every time I have spring or winter break since last year. I've been looking for this book for nearly two years and I can't find it any where. If you ever have the chance read this book I defently recomend that you do.

Once I pick up the book, I can't put it down.

When I bought this book, I was too young to make it through the whole thing. I finally picked it up to see if I wanted to toss it out and couldn't put it down. If I'm not required to wake up earily, I'll read till I can't see the words right. Ellen Emerson White almost made the characters come to life in the why they felt and acted. It's a well written book with twist and turns no one could guess that makes you wonder what is going to happen next.