Bad Girls - Hardcover

Wilson, Jacqueline

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385729162 ISBN 13: 9780385729161

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2001

Synopsis

Mandy White is a good girl who the bad girls like to pick on. Until a bigger, badder girl makes her her special friend. Tanya is a foster child across the street and she's nothing like good little Mandy. She's fun and she's tough and she wears really cool clothes. Of course, Mandy's overprotective mother wants her precious little daughter to have nothing to do with the new neighbor. But Mandy is growing up and learning a lot about herself and the real world. Like sometimes bad girls are truly terrible bullies. But sometimes, a bad girl can have the best heart and make the best friend.

About this title

Review

Mandy White hates looking 8 years old when she's really 10. She's tired of her babyish blond braids, her bunny sweaters, and her fussy older mother who won't let her cut her hair or buy cool clothes. But most of all, Mandy's had it with being her same old boring self. "I just wanted to stop being me. I wanted to grow up a whole new person, not Mandy White." To make matters worse, Mandy is constantly reminded of her shortcomings by beautiful, raven-haired Kim, the school bully. "Girls like Kim never wear glasses or braces.... They never have a silly haircut. They never wear stupid baby clothes.... You can't tease girls like Kim. There's nothing to tease her about." Then Mandy meets Tanya, the wild foster kid from next door. Tanya is 14, dyes her hair bright orange, wears "great clacky high heels" with every outfit, and fears nothing. With Tanya at her side, Mandy feels like she could face an army of Kims. But will Mandy ever learn how to get in touch with her own inner "bad girl" so she can face down Kim once and for all?

British author Jacqueline Wilson has perfectly captured the voice and musings of a 10-year-old in transition. Her discussion of issues like bullying and foster care is leavened with humor and sensitivity, without seeming condescending or message-laden. Mandy White joins the ranks of Amber Brown and Anastasia Krupnik as a realistic and honest heroine for girls in their "tween" years. (Ages 9 to 12) --Jennifer Hubert

From the Back Cover

“Jacqueline Wilson is hugely popular with 7–10 year olds; she should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance.” –The Sunday Independent

“A brilliant young writer of wit and subtlety.” –The Times

“A rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emotional issues.” –The Bookseller

About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0385729162
• ISBN 13: 9780385729161
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176
• Illustrator: Sharratt Nick