Reading Level: Young Adult

Jess Jordan is 15, and very charming, although not quite insane. This hilarious novel, the first in a planned trilogy about the trials and triumphs of Jess Jordan, is a real winner. American teens will immediately identify with Jess, an English teenager who undergoes all the humiliations, hopes and dreams of high school girls all over the world, and will find themselves laughing out loud as they read. Murphy's Law (if it can go wrong, it will), is always in play in Jess's life, and isn't that so often the way it works, especially in high school?

Jess's parents are divorced, her mom a librarian whose passion is anti-war rallies, and her long-distance father is a forgetful poet who means well, but misses the mark. Jess's Granny also lives with them, and Granny spends most of her time ferreting out death and disaster around the globe, interspersed with watching violent movies. Jess has a best friend named Flora, who's beautiful, talented, smart and rich, and has every boy in school in love with her, an infuriating best friend, but one who keeps Jess constantly searching for ways to compete with her. Luckily, our Jess is smart, too, although sometimes convinced she will never be as wonderful as Flora.

With these characters, and many more, Sue Limb has written a very funny book about teen life, and Jess's everyday adventures are related in a droll and delightful fashion.

— Kay Morris