This novel uses humour to mask its more hard-hitting messages, but it’s an entertaining read for those just starting to make the leap into more adult ideas.
Ashley Anderson, 14, is the original Mean Girl at the start of the novel. She is at the top of the social chain in her group of friends, and is put out by the news that her mother’s new boyfriend has been asked to move in. Given that Ashley is still trying to come to terms with the fact that her dad is gay, she is less than pleased by this news. As if this weren’t bad enough for Ashley, mum’s boyfriend has a son – Stewart – a gifted, but socially inept, thirteen year-old.
The story is told from alternating points of view, and this gives us valuable insights into the way each character feels about events. Both the main characters are great, but for very different reasons.
While I found this all a little conveniently resolved, it will certainly get younger readers thinking about the key ideas within its pages.