What do You think about Girl, 15, Charming But Insane (2004)?
The audio book is great! If I read this book, I might not have enjoyed it as much because at times I don't get the British humor, but no, this was great. Jess is a 15 year old girl who is a little boy obsessed who is trying to get through life with her best friend Flora and her used to be best friend Fred. I think what I enjoyed most is that Jess's mom is a librarian, feminist, war protestor. Other great things that happen in this book: Jess's grandma moves in with her and her mum, Jess goes to a party and stuffs her bra with minestrone soup packets and they bust open, she cleans herself off in the bathroom and then later finds out that a boy fixed a camera in the girls bathroom so she is horrified when their is a video viewing party where she is told she is the star of the movie, her falling out with her best friend Fred because her grandma flooded the house the day of Fred's moms party, the creation of the band Poisonous Trash with Ben, Mackenzie, and Flora, realizing she doesn't really like Ben as much as she thought.
—Alexandria Jakupovic
Girl, 15, Charming but Insane follows the adventures of Jess Johnson, the self-described charming-but-insane 15 year old girl of the title. Jess is funny, intelligent beyond her years, and plagued by the same adolescent insecurities that affect us all at that age. Jess's best friend Flora is studious, blond and popular, and just happens to be dating the best friend of Jess's not-so-secret crush, Ben Jones! Will Jess win the affection of her crush, Ben Jones? Or will her world be turned upside-down when her ailing grandmother moves in with Jess and her single mother?Author Sue Limb writes in a fun, breezy and engaging style. Although I was never a teenage girl, I found it easy to empathize with Jess's plight and could very much relate to the situations she found herself in. The book is quite funny and the narrative action fully engages the reader. I highly recommend this book for teen readers and fans of young adult fiction.
—Joe Young
9th-12th grade. This British young adult novel features the fearless, witty Jess who struggles her way through her fifteenth year, with the help of best friends Flora and Fred. The protagonist is hilarious, causing the reader to laugh out loud in various places. She faces many a debacle, including her grandmother moving in, the mystery of why her parents split up, whether Ben does or does not like her back, whether her bum or her cleavage will ever be satisfactory, and other incredibly important events. There are also scenes where the reader immediately realizes what Jess does not--that there is no way the decision she is currently making will end well. A prime example is when she decides to use bags of minestrone soup to enhance her cleavage at a particular party. The book ends on a happy note but leaves a few things unresolved, suggesting a sequel. Despite its fairly traditional plot, this book might make a good addition to a public library's youth collection, as its fierce humor is compelling and has a distinctively British flavor.
—Joanna Price
