Girl 15, Charming but Insane
by Sue Limb
Random House
2004
New York
ISBN: 0385732147

Plot Summary:
Jess Jordan is a witty smart-alec, full of imagination but low on self-esteem.
She's been obsessed with Ben for as long as she can remember. Her best friend Flora thinks he likes her too, but Flora is beautiful and nice and perfect...and clueless!
Jess' other best friend, Fred, suddenly stops speaking to her, confusing Jess even more! Jess has so many other problems to worry about--like, will Bonnie and Clyde (her boobs) ever get bigger?
why did her parents break up? was it because of her? why is her Gran so obsessed with violence? why can boys only deal with football?
Critical Evaluation:
A rollicking roller coaster of a book, the character of Jess is so well-written that it's almost as if she was right there next to me, whispering her smart-ass comments in my ear. The novel's pitch never slows, its breakneck pace perfectly mirroring Jess' topsy-turvy daily emotions. Jess' humor is razor-sharp, yet the voice is never cruel or condescending.
Reader's Annotation:
Can such a smart girl with such a lack of ambitions ever make good? Will her librarian mother see her for the smarty-pants she is? And, how about Fred...what is the deal with Fred? (And does her crush on Ben really amount to anything?)
Author Info:
Sue Limb was a teacher for over a dozen years, then she turned to writing for plays and television, then documentaries, and finally....writing books! She has written three other series in addition to Jess' story, which is now on its fourth book.
Genre:
Chick Lit/ romance
Booktalking Ideas:
*Will Jess realize the nature of her feelings for Fred?
*Is Flora really as perfect as Jess believes?
*Why is Gran so obsessed with murder?
*Is Jess' dad a deadbeat?
Reader level/ Interest age:
Clearly marketed for YA chick lit market/ sophisticated voice and humor make this enjoyable for absolutely any age.
Challenges:
No foreseeable challenges...funny, no sex, drugs, or violence of any kind.
Why Include:
A fellow librarian-in-training recommended it. Thank you !!!!