The Girls

Sasha, Lottie, Alice and Leela share a special place, an apple tree where they like to meet. Despite their different personalities and interests they are the best of friends, sharing their dreams and their worries together. As time passes their lives take them in different directions both in terms of their relationships and careers. Childhood traits and interests become adult careers; Sacha, always practical and caring, becomes a doctor and adventurous Lottie an explorer. Although they were ‘as different as they were the same’ they remained the best of friends sharing each other’s successes and helping each other when they had difficulties.

This is a delightful and beautifully illustrated story which celebrates female friendship. It does not idealise however, recognising there are ups and downs and that friends do fall out sometimes too.  The story is aspirational suggesting a range of possibilities in terms of the girls’ life paths and quietly promotes diversity through the ways the characters and their relationships are depicted. A books which would make a wonderful present for young girls and a great addition to library or school collections of books on relationships or girls and women.