Ellen and the Gang — Frieda Friedman

Ellen had hoped to spend two weeks away at camp, but now she would have to stay in New York City for the whole summer. Why couldn't her mother see how glad she was when Diane, Bob, and Ken seemed to want her company while her best friends were away? After a, Ellen thought, mothers shouldn't tell girls nearly in their teens what friends to choose.

So she began to meet her three new friends secretly almost every day. Then she unexpectedly learned, in a shocking situations, that they had only been using her. Because of them, she was sure she would never again her Mother say, “Ellen's dad and I are very proud of her.” She had disgraced her whole family.

Ellen is engagingly human as she tries to live down her mistakes, and when she finally does, the moment is one of joy both for her and the reader. A large city housing project makes a lively background for this appealing, and believable family story.