Ashley's Secret — Brigitte Gutsche

Sue Ellen's sweetness and smiles may have warmed the hearts of Kevin and Benjamin, but Ashley's has gone as cold as stone toward her. Over a boy! Can the friendship of the four survive the monster of jealousy? The Holt's Friends series by Brigitte Gutsche is family fare: a wholesome set of books about four youngsters, their friendships, motivations and family relationships. It covers a four-year period from the time Benjamin, Kevin, Ashley and Sue-Ellen are 10 - 14 years old. The novels look at their world from their point of view as they interact with their reality and the adults show influence it. As in real life, the characters have different facets of their personalities exposed as life's situations bring out different qualities or immaturities.