The Friends, Rosa Guy

Phyllisia Cathy (intelligent, lonely, and proud) and Edith Jackson (poor, street-smart, and responsible) form a friendship that survives cruelty, misunderstanding, and betrayal. The Friends is a coming-of-age story with a twist, as society, parents, and clashing values forge a bond between two teenagers.

Related Readings

"We Real Cool"—poem by Gwendolyn Brooks

"Hanging Fire"—poem by Audre Lorde

"A Sincere Friendship"—short story by Clarice Lispector

from Winesburg, Ohio—fiction by Sherwood Anderson

"To His Daughter 'Pie'"—letter by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"To Her Daughter Linda"—letter by Anne Sexton

"Linked"—poem by Naomi Shihab Nye

Study Guide (PDF)