Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging - confessions of Georgia Nicholson

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicholson
by Louise Rennison
Published by Harpertempest
1999
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Plot Summary

This is the hilarious diary of Georgia Nicholson, a fourteen year old british girl who writes about her everyday dramatic and muddled teenage life. Throughout the book we learn about her adoring yet troublesome mixed-breed wildcat, Angus; her little sister, Libby, who frequently pees in Georgia's bed, but whom she loves; her best friend Jas; and 'the sex god' Robbie, who Georgia is crazy about.
During the year that this journal takes place, Georgia faces many challenges. Her father has to move to New Zealand for lack of work in England, she has friend troubles and her nose is not getting any smaller, she dreams of the day when she can have it shrunk, have her eyebrows shaped properly and when she grows breasts.
Oh wait! What will she wear to the party in two weeks? Told from her point of view, her priorities will make any girl giggle, this is a definite knee slapper!

Excerpt: Got dressed in a short skirt, then me and Jas walked up and down to the main road. We wanted to see how many cars with boys in them hooted at us. Ten! (We had to walk up and down for four hours.....still, ten is ten!!!) (page 155)

Comments

I recently fell on the ice and fractured my hand. While waiting in the emergency department of the hospical, surrounded by extremely sick people, I read this book. I really thought that it was my saving grace, thank goodness that I had had the foresight to bring it with me. Georgia's stories encompase all of the teenage characteristics and idiosyncracies that I had when I was a teen (well, hers are more dramatic). The book was so entertaining and funny that I was able to escape into her world and forget about the pain in my hand and the terrible place where I was spending my time.
The predicaments that Georgia finds herself in, her use of gritty yet straightforward language is of an endearing quality. Her insecurities are those of most girls, however, they seem like the end of the world to her. I think that many teenage girls would enjoy this book, for its humour and its dramatised true-life depcitions of the inner workings of straight teenager girls.
I would hight recommend this to any teenage reader.

Age Range - 12-16

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Abel's Island

Abel's Island
By William Steig
Published by Square Fish Publishing
1976
image retrieved - http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/sunprairie/images/AbelsIsland.jpg

Plot Summary

During a lovely picnic, a rainstorm sweeps Abel (a mouse) away from his wife. He finds himself stranded on a deserted island in the middle of a river and far from home. Abel must now learn to survive, alone, in the wild. He has shelter and food, but finding a way off the island proves to be a challenge. He comes up with many creative plans for his escape over the fast flowing river. Abel ends up staying on the island for one year for he has many failed attempts to cross the river. Abel never gives up hope. He builds himself a comfortable and safe sleeping place, he takes up carving as a passion and pass time and he continuously brainstorms new ways to escape his island to rejoin his wife.

Comments

Although Abel faces challenges as a survivor on a lone island, his challenges can represent those that face us as young people. Life can often times throw many surprising siturations that had previously not been anticipated. This is the story of just that. Abel learns to make the best of his situation by remaining creative and focused on his end goal, that of getting off of the island. He learns to foster and accept himself as he is and he remains calm and optimistic through all of his alone time on the island. This book enabled me to escape onto the island with Abel as he learned many of life's lessons. Found in many young adult sections in libraries, I think that this book is most suitable for older children or young teens. It is written in the same way a fairy tale is conveyed and it offers several positive morals. I think that older teens would find this book too juvenile, however they may like it for its simplistic approach.

Age Range - 8-12

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