1. GINGER SNAPS
AUTHOR: CATHY CASSIDY
PUFFIN PAGES 248
There are many things Ginger Brown doesn't like about her life. The first thing is the silly name her parents gave her. At school, the kids don't just smirk at her. They laugh in her face. The boys even pull her plaits because her name is so funny, and even the teacher has no sympathy for her. Ginger never gets invited to sleepovers or movies or for playground games by the other girls.
She's so tired of being an outsider, a loser. Pigtails and puppy fat used to be a part of Ginger, but not any more.
Ginger and her friends are growing up now, experimenting with makeup and hair straightners, and turning themselves into lovely swans.
While growing into someone confident and cool, Ginger remembers how it felt to be bullied, so her heart goes out to lonely Emily.
Ginger also takes a fancy to the weird, wonderful boy with the trilby hat and saxophone. But these new friendships change things between Ginger and her best friend, Shannon.
Can Ginger and Shannon remain best friends forever, or will changing circumstances force them apart?
This is a lovely and entertaining book about friendships, which don't stay strong all by themselves. This is also about learning not to hurt others knowingly, and to speak out against bullying.
Teenaged girls will fall in love with the lively characters, and have a lot of fun while realising how beautiful and valuable a good friend can be.
2. THE MUM SHOP
AUTHOR: CECI JENKINS
FABER AND FABER 176 PAGES
Ten year old Oli is annoyed that his Mum won't allow him to watch REAL BLOOD BATH MURDERS on TV. Worse still, Mum doesn't think serving pizza for every meal is a good idea.
Like the best of Mums and the nicest kids, Oli has a spat with his Mum. Horror of horrors! He blurts out something in anger, which he wishes he had never said. "I wish you were not my Mum."
Words once spoken can have terrible results. Oli's Mum takes Oli to the Mum Shop, and offers herself up for an exchange. Sour tempered Cedric runs the fantastic Matcher machine and Oli gets a new Mum.
This new Mum is huge and orange haired, with boisterous manners to match. Her name is Sid, and she has travelled to the remotest limits of Bhutan, Mongolia, and learnt many tricks during a stint with the Ping Yong Police force.
Oli and Sid, along with Oli's best friend Skipjack, have a rollicking time, until Sid finds herself with no money to pay for the pizzas they have ordered, and is faced with the threat of going to jail.
The Mum Shop gives Oli a new Mum, M44. M44 drives a battle tank and leads a secret conspiracy to trouble and punish all children. Can Oli ever escape from M44's evil clutches and get his own dear Mum back?
Filled with adventures and loads of laughs, this is an exciting and fun read.
