Bad Alice - Softcover

Ure, Jean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340817607 ISBN 13: 9780340817605

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2003

Synopsis

13-year-old Duffy is staying with his nan for the summer while his mum and seriously ill little sister are in America for a life-saving operation. Duffy suffers mildy from Tourette's Syndrome - he only knows his gran and one of her neighbour's kids, a loud, insensitive kid called Stephen - what's he going to do for six whole weeks! Then Duffy meets Alice, a girl his age who lives next door, a girl who Nan disapproves of and everyone in the town thinks is mad; a girl who makes Duffy feel accepted and liked. Alice is volatile, and direct and Duffy tells her all about his little sister, his Tourette's and his absent father who left his mum because of him. Alice is more cryptic about her own home life. Everyone knows her adoptive father, Big Norm; he's the most popular man around; a devout Evangelist who runs a care home - Duffy's nan adores him. Yet Alice and her adopted sister are half in awe, half frightened of their dad; desperate for his approval, yet somehow resentful of him, too. It isn't until Alice shows Duffy the story she's been writing, written in the style of Alice in Wonderland, that the scales finally fall from his eyes.Big Norm has been abusing Alice, to what extent it isn't clear, but she's terrified, and he has to help her. Duffy convinces Alice to face her situation in the real world, not just in a story, and to tell his nan what's been going on. When the truth is out, Alice is taken into care, and Duffy faces the fact he may never see her again, but 'bad Alice' touched his life - he will never forget her.

About this title

About the Author:

Jean Ure is the established author of many books for children and her writing is very much inspired by her own experiences, passions and beliefs. Her love of dance and ballet inspired her to write many young novels on that subject, and she is also a keen animal rights activist and a vegan! Jean is busy all the time. If she is not writing she is researching, visiting schools, or taking care of her huge family of dogs and cats! Jean lives in Croydon with her husband and all the animals ...

Review:

Told with Jean Ure's trademark deftness of characterisation and dialogue ... it does have Alice making the right moves to end her desperate situation. It's polished, accomplished and at the same time deeply involving -- Armadillo 20030301 This is a very clever twist on the Alice in Wonderland sotry, which tackles som very big issues but can be read on many levels depending on your age -- Newcastle upon tyne evening chronicles 20040729 Impossible to read Bad Alice and forget it. Abuse is a difficult subject for fiction, but here it is treated with sensitivity and understanding ... will undoubtedly earn a place in school libraries for many years to come. -- School Library Journal 20030801

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0340817607
• ISBN 13: 9780340817605
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176