Dear Girls from Ames,

I just finished reading your book and loved it. As a divorced 38 year old with a child, there was so much I could relate to and I especially related to Kelly! I have one best friend, Mandy, rather than 9, but we have been friends since birth (our parents went to high school together) and I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She has been there for me through everything from cancer scares to putting on her "Big Girl Shoes" as she calls them and hitting the town so her newly single bff can have some fun (she is married with 2 kids). Thanks for having this website and sharing your updates. I was so glad to read both Kelly and Angela are doing well. Thanks again for sharing your story.

Dear Girls from Ames, After reading your book I feel like you are my friends. I am an avid reader and have read hundreds of books in my 55 years. Ladies, I have to tell you this was the best book I have ever read in my life!!! I couldn't put it down. I read it straight through. I identified with so many things that you all went through. I can't thank you enough for sharing your forty years of friendship with the world. Your friendship and love for one another and your families oozed off of every page. I never thought in my lifetime I would read such a wonderful book. I wish you all good health and happiness. To Kelly and Angela I say "fight like a girl". Sincerest wishes and best of luck. Karen J. Brooks, Anderson, Indiana

I just happened upon this book. I've never seen it before, but will be reading it stat.
I am in the middle of planning what we're calling "The Crestline Girls Reunion". We are a group of 6 girls who've known each other for 45-47 years. Four of us, since kindergarten, all of us since 2nd Grade. Our story is not one of living our lives within the radius of each other and tracking each other's lives, our story is that all of us were together through 9th grade, and then a number of us moved with our families and went on to "live our lives" apart. Only a couple of us have kept touch with each other - UNTIL NOW! Thanks to the magic of Facebook, we have all found each other once again and are amazed at how close we all still are - even though we haven't been together for years. It feels just like yesterday that we were together. So, to celebrate our good fortune, we are having a reunion in our hometown of Crestline, California - up in the San Bernardino Mountains where we all grew up together. It promises to be an amazing event. Details are still to unfold.

My best friend and I have been the Bobbsey Twins for 46 years when she moved to the neighborhood during our 4th grade year. After my moving away 38 years ago, we still talk every day. We survived walking home from school in the neighborhood singing, "We're raving, roving streetwalkers" not having any clue, much to our mothers'chagrine when one of our neighbors reported to them, what a streetwalker was to finding our way through very different college experiences. She lived the life of an independent woman at a huge university and lived at home and attended a small college. We struggled not to lose our friendship through those years but never lost each other. I knew we'd be okay when I got this from her after a time when when we had so little in common. She sent the lyrics to Sister Goldenhair Surprise,"I just keep thinkin' about you, Sister Goldenhair Surprise. AndI just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes. I've been one poor correspondent, I've been too, too hard to find but it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind." We've survived marriages, children and not having children, death of beloved parents, and now the challenges of being happy in this crazy world in which we live. I couldn't do it without her and I'm thankful every day that I don't have to. We are Frog and Toad, the geriatic version of the Bobbsey Twins.

Hi! I love a good book about friendships:)

I have a best friend of twelve years and I love her to death. We have been there for each other for so long. She's been there when I've cried, laughed, been sick in the hospital, lost my dad, and even when other so-called friends hurt my feelings. I would do anything in the world for her. I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's actually my sister-in-law. Yes, we are that close...lol! She knows my shoulder is always there and no one can ever take her spot in my heart. I would give her the shirt off my back.

My childhood wasn't great. She has been helping me get through a lot of things. I am very grateful for that. She has been through some things in her life as well, and I have been there as the calming voice for her when those bad days come.

My point in sharing these thoughts is that I am so glad I actually know what real friendship is. I am happy I have been able to experience this in my lifetime. There is nothing like having a special friend in your life that you know would never leave your side. Even when you get mad at each other, it all blows over and the love is still the same:)

Thank you for this book:)

(378) Thank you so much for a wonderful book. Even tho I am much older than the girls, I could relate so much. I grew up in a small (very small) town in Minnesota. My group (4 of us) were all born in 1946. 3 of them still live in Minnesota and I live in California. We try and see each other every year. It is so fun to "pick up" right where we left off.

It is true, these girls know me best. I will make sure my girls read this book too.

Thank you Ames girls for having the courage to share your story. I think that female friendship is crucial for a fulfilled life, and it was heartwarming to read about your relationship with one another.

I am slightly wistful after reading the book, because I moved around so much when I was growing up. It was hard being the outsider when so many girls had already formed their group of friends, and were not interested in including the "new girl."

However, I did live in the small town of Madison, Connecticut between the ages of 13 and 16, and although it was one of the shortest times I spent in one place, the friendships I made there have lasted.

I am still close with five girls I met there, although they were in different groups of friends. One girl is a unique individual, and was the first person in my eighth grade class to reach out to me. She is still one of my most trusted confidants, even though she isn't really close with my other friends from that town.

Another friend and I have been exchanging letters, and we enjoy communicating this way, because we think it is more authentic. We have become much closer since we started writing letters, and our phone conversations pick up where the letters left off.

I think the community makes a big difference in the quality of friendships formed in the preteen and teenage years. I have stayed close with more girls from Madison than from any other place I lived, and I lived in 3 countries and 4 states for the first 16 years of my life.

I have a group of 11 friends from high school - some have been friends longer, but we came together as a group in high school. I cried throughout this book and I could feel the love the girls share. It was very clear to see that these girls had a fierce love for one another and were incredibly loyal. I can see parts of the Ames girls in all of my "Bluefield" girls and I was honored to be able to read a book about these love stories. I have often thought that perhaps the love that I feel for my friends is unusual, but it is great to see that it isn't. I have often said that being with my high school girls makes me feel like I am home. Thank you Jeffrey and thank you girls from Ames from a "girl from Bluefield".

This story really struck me as I too, have such a strong bond with my friends. Though I am only 26, my friendship with my Abby started when we were babies in the nursery. I'm sure our bond didn't really form until we could say each other's names, but we still have such an amazing history that keeps us bonded even today.

Even more fun, I am 6'0 tall and Abby is 4"11. She is blond, I am brunette. Our parents used to say they should put us in a bag, shake us up, and we'd come out the same. She calls me long legs, I call her Babber. We have also been through many trying times from a house fire to the death of my boyfriend. We used to play school together all the time and now we are both teachers. The memories go on and on.

Currently, she is serving as a missionary in Honduras so we rarely get to see each other. However, when we do, we pick right up where we left off. There is such a comfort in an old friend. They know who you are, your history, your personality, EVERYTHING. You can just be "you" around them. There is such a peace in that. Abby and I can sit in silence or gab away, but they are both perfect ways of just simply being friends. I know our friendship will continue not just because of our history, but because we know God has blessed both of us with each other!

Thank you for opening your hearts and lives to us through this book!

I grew up in Newton and went to HS in Des Moines, IA. Have been to Ames several times. My niece told me about this book and I cannot wait to read it. Tomorrow is the day. I was best friends since I was 4 yr old with the girl across the street, Linda, in Newton. As the years went by, I moved away, but the USmail kept us up with each other, then email, phone calls and such. Moving to CA, I often went back to IA for class reunions and we visited, laughed, cried, took many pictures. After 61 years of dear friendship, I lost her last Dec to cancer. My dear HS buddy, in DM, Fran, we were inseparable. Dated each others brothers for a while, went to the prom together, (double date),remember this was in the 60's and oh what easy fun. We both moved to CA and remained the best of friends for over 48 years. I lost Fran last Dec, also, to cancer. It was a priviledge to have these two women be my best friends for so many years and I got the chance to tell them. These two women will forever remain in my heart and spirit. Around each corner I see them still. I hear their laughter sometimes. Iowa is the best place ever to grow up, friendships stick like glue and that is something everyone should experience, having friends like that. Thanks for this book, after reading it, I know I will want to put into words my story on my these women who have touched my life.

I was very excited to hear that this book had been written about girls growing up in Ames, Iowa because I also grew up in Ames. But then to hear that one of the girls was Karen Brady, I got even more excited brcause my mother, Ruth Kindermann, was very good friends with Karen's mother, Ingrid. Karen is the baby, so she is quite a bit younger than I am. Karen's sister, Lynne, is a year younger than I am, so I played with her and her younger sister, Mary Beth the most. I remember Karen as being very little and very cute. I can't wait to read this book!

I grew up up in Ada, Oklahoma. When I was born in 1961 my mother had a roommate in the hospital & that baby of her's & I are best of friends to this day. Many that I was in kindergarten with remained in school with me through high school & some through college, many of which I still see & communicate with to this day.

The friend I met right before first grade is still like a sister to me, we were best friends all through school, roommates in & after college & will always remain closer than close. She is the sister I never had.

I travel to Mexico with a group of girls I formerly worked with, there are 6 of us & we go every year & have been going about 8 years now. We also get together one Friday a month & no one ever misses these 'girl's nights out.'

I truly value all these close friendships, it is comforting to have people in your life that know you best & will always love & be supportive of you!

I can't wait to read this book!! About 10 years ago, a group of my sorority sisters who were extremely close friends at Birmingham Southern College in Alabama in 1962, got together for the first time in 40+ years in Pensacola, Florida, There were about 15 of us. The amazing part was that we picked it up like we had seen each other yesterday. There was no such thing as breaking the ice although some of us did not recognize others. It was an amazing spirit as these "friendships tried and true" reunited for a remarkable weekend.

Our group just had a great party at our beach house celebrating turning 60 this year. My Washington friends include 3 close girlfriends and my husband who also went to highschool with us and came within 3 days of marrying one of my close friends:)We are rather a fluid group, maybe because of when we grew up but the 5 of us now live in Washington state after growning up in Southern California, but often get together with others form our group who live in California and Oregon. I have quoted so many passages form THE GIRLS FORM AMES to my daughters, sisters and friends. Fabulous book! gXiwa

The author mentions guys having different friendships than women, this is probably true but when I see my husband return to his hometown of Santa Barbara California and see him excited to see old childhood friends and point out why each corner of a street, park bench, or diner is special to him and the guys it makes me jealous that I don't have that with my old school friends. The antics of those boys and how they all turned out so amazing and successful in life is incredible to me. Should Zaslow ever consider doing a book on men and their friendships I know just the perfect group of guys who grew up in Santa Barbara before Santa Barbara was cool.