Product Description

For now, Shiraz is stuck on an estate in Goodmayes, Essex, with her sister Cava-Sue, her nightmare mum Diane and her loved-up mate Carrie. Hoodies, hip-hop and hanging about outside Claire's Accessories. Taking her flatulent Staffy for a walk. Lusting after local lad Wesley Barrington Baines II. It's a limited world for this loveable Essex dreamer. But when new English Teacher Miss Brackett arrives at Mayflower Academy, Shiraz is made to see there's more to life than getting excluded, suped up Vauxhall Novas and Chicago Town pizza. It's time Shiraz began thinking what she wants to do with life. And what sort of person she wants to be. A lot of snooty folk call Shiraz Bailey Wood a chav. Well if by 'Chav' you mean 'Charming, Hilarious, Articulate and Vibrant', Shizza doesn't mind that at all. Call her what you want. She don't care. She's keeping it real.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71330 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
Keeping a diary isn`t exactly cool but Shiraz Bailey Wood (15) knows she'd best start writing one. She's going to need it in a few years when she writes her best-selling autobiography. For now, Shiraz is stuck on an estate in Goodmayes, Essex, with her sister Cava-Sue, her nightmare mum Diane and her loved-up mate Carrie. Hoodies, hip-hop and hanging about outside Claire's Accessories. Taking her flatulent Staffy for a walk. Lusting after local lad Wesley Barrington Baines II. It's a limited world for this loveable Essex dreamer. But when new English Teacher Miss Brackett arrives at Mayflower Academy, Shiraz is made to see there's more to life than getting excluded, suped up Vauxhall Novas and Chicago Town pizza. It's time Shiraz began thinking what she wants to do with life. And what sort of person she wants to be. A lot of snooty folk call Shiraz Bailey Wood a chav. Well if by 'Chav' you mean 'Charming, Hilarious, Articulate and Vibrant', Shizza doesn't mind that at all. Call her what you want. She don't care. She's keeping it real.

About the Author

With THREE bestselling novels in the past 12 months, Grace Dent is undeniably one of the hottest names in teen fiction right now. THE IBIZA DIARIES, the fourth of her novels about the loveable Shiraz BW is released on June 19th 2008 and is set to be one of the most vital, hilarious reads for Summer 2008. Put simply: right now, no other author nails how young people REALLY speak and behave like Grace Dent. It’s reached the point where SBW fans refuse to believe that the vivid Essex sensation is a fictional character! Messages and pleas for advice for Shiraz, Cava-Sue and the gang pour in day and night via Bebo and Myspace, MSN! Grace says: ‘I’ve cajoled kids who claim to have never read anything longer than a text message into reading three entire novels and nagging for the fourth. This makes me insanely proud.’
Grace is a comedy writer and broadcaster specialising in all aspects of ‘Pop Culture’. She is a presenter on The Culture Show on BBC2 and has recently interviewed Mitchell and Webb and the cast of Gavin and Stacey. She lives in East London with her husband, who works in the music industry. When she's not writing comedy Grace is to be found 'faffing about on the internet' or 'faffing about in the garden or kitchen' or 'just 'faffing about generally. I'm an excellent faffer.' 

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable read, not just for teens
Teen diaries will inevitably attract comparisons to the Adrian Mole series, but this one stands nicely on its own merits. It just gets funnier - and more touching - as it goes along, and the climax is hysterical. Warning: those old enough to have read the Adrian Mole books when they first came out will be disturbed by the contemptuous references to Level 42 and Wham - apparently this is what fuddy-duddy old parents listen to now!

Touching and absolutely hilarious. Just as good for adults as teenagers.
I loved this book, I laughed out loud from start to finish and so did my husband. We are 28 and 36, this isn't just a book for teens it's for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

The characters are well rounded and extremely likeable. I would give this book six stars if I could.

FAB!
I'm not a big lover of chavs but I thought this book was amazing. It really showed me that chavs can be nice, polite, clever people and aren't all rude-mouthed ASBOs.