Difference between revisions of "Ginger Snaps by Cathy Cassidy"
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Revision as of 16:52, 6 January 2009
| Ginger Snaps by Cathy Cassidy | |
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| Category: Teens | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: An excellent story which looks at many situations with which teenagers will be familiar. Highly recommended by The Bookbag | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 240 | Date: February 2009 |
| Publisher: Puffin Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0141322124 | |
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Ginger Brown's parents were a little unconventional. It's unusual to call your child 'Ginger' and unfortunate when she turns out to have hair of the appropriate colour. It wasn't the only reason that she was bullied and an outsider at school, but it didn't help and when Ginger went on to Kinnerton High she reinvented herself. The puppy fat and pigtails disappeared and in their place appeared a sophisticated (well, almost) young woman. She's popular, confident and along with her best mate, Shannon, they seem to have the world at their feet.
Something else that they have at their feet one day is a rather unusual young man who wears a trilby hat and plays the saxophone. He's sat on the steps blocking their way to Maths and Shannon assumes that he'll fall for her charms as every other boy seems to, but he doesn't. It's Ginger he's taken with and Shannon's more than a bit upset about that. She doesn't like boys who don't fall for her and she certainly doesn't like the possibility that Ginger's attentions might be diverted away from her.
Cathy Cassidy is like Kate Cann: they never put a foot wrong. They never patronise or underestimate their readers and they know that they want and deserve plots which would pass muster in adult books. They deliver characters which you can identify with and situations which are going to be familiar to the teenage girl. They're reliable and you can buy their books on name alone.
Most teenagers are going to be familiar with the story lines in Ginger Snaps. There's the relief of being 'taken up' by someone when you thought that no one wanted you as a friend, and hey, what does it matter if they always seem to get their own way over things? What if she's a bit manipulative? You're in the thick of things rather than on the outside looking in. There's the confusion when a third person comes into the friendship – it rarely means that there are now three friends. A crush on a teacher (they've obviously improved dramatically since my day) can be painful, but trying to take it any further is going to cause pain in all sorts of areas. Most of all, though, it's about following your own instincts about people and situations, about being honest.
Good character, a good plot and simple direct writing with no padding and waffle – what more could you want. Highly recommended.
I'd like to thank the people at Puffin for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
If this type of book appeals then you're sure to like Kate Cann's books. We think you'll also enjoy Meet Me At The Boathouse by Suzanne Bugler.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Ginger Snaps by Cathy Cassidy at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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