Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture
by Sue Limb
2005
Delacorte Books
New York City
ISBN: 0385732163
Plot Summary:
Book 2 of the Girl 15 series picks up right where Book 1 closed. Jess and Fred are
still in the throes of young and frenzied love, summer has begun, and they can't wait to snog in the park on a hot summer day. But wait! Jess' mum has decided to abduct Jess (with a willing Gran), and drive to the seaside for a meandering peek at gardens and old, dusty castles. The holiday will end with a first-ever visit to her father's home, but Jess is so bewildered and annoyed by the sudden snatch away from her suddenly love that she can't even look forward to that.
Critical Evaluation:
Sue Limb strikes again, employing a whip-smart wit with a fast-paced narrative, all signs which point to the reflection of the mood swings of a temperamental powerhouse. The humor is so personalized to Jess that when laughing, it's almost as if she's present, cracking jokes in your ear. Unlike many other novels I have read, there's no elephant in the room, no tragedy around the corner, and no massive, "real-life" issues to confront: just laughs and smiles and snorts and giggles.
Reader's Annotation:
Just when Jess and her best pal Fred decide they might not just be pals after all, her mum has to hijack her off to the countryside! Can their newfound love sustain the 2-week absence? And, what the heck is wrong with her dad?
Author Info:
Sue Limb is a writer, gardener, and apparently, the funniest woman in England.
She 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:
Romantic Comedy/ YA Fiction
Booktalking Ideas:
*Is Fred really so randy as Jess imagines?
*Is she far lovelier than she realizes?
*Is her mother in love with the Romantic Poets? From 200 years ago!?
*Why are Grandfather's ashes so important to Gran?
Reader Level/ Interest Age:
Published as a series for young adult readers, but the laughs are appealing, accessible, and desirable to any age.
Challenges:
Nothing but laughs and love, forgiveness and acceptance: the only person likely to challenge is Scrooge.
Why Include?:
Because I love Sue Limb, and I cannot figure out why her books do not suffer from worldwide acclaim.
