By Colorado Kids Advisory Board member Veronique Lecocq

Title: Girl, 15, Charming But Insane
Author: Sue Limb
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Number of Pages: 214

Sue Limb’s Book is Charming, but Insane

Jess Jordan -- charming, insane, and insecure. Her teachers think she could really succeed, if only she didn’t dedicate her class time to drawing iguana-like love tattoos of school-wide idol Ben Jones on her arms. No one may ever know how she came to be best friends with the flawless Flora, who looks so much like the ancient goddesses of both beauty and love that even parents comment on it. Jess thinks she would kill the perfect little brat if she didn’t like her so much. Besides, she has way too many other things on her mind to worry about hiding the evidence. For example, there’s the task of figuring out what in the world she’s expected to do now that her Granny’s moving in and her peace-rally-obsessed mother is banishing her to the cell they call a spare bedroom. As if that wasn’t enough, the party she’s going to in hopes of impressing Ben Jones with a makeshift makeover turns into a catastrophe that has excellent chances of ruining her social life forever.

Girl, 15, Charming But Insane details the mad events that take Jess’ life from bad to worse as an attempt to salvage her reputation becomes a death spiral. On the whole, the book was well written and witty, but not enjoyable enough to be recommendable. The style is original, but often only at the price of morality and virtue. The characters are realistic, but unfortunately that’s a quality that bars them from being righteous heroes. Jess’ possibly former friend Fred is the most honorable one of the lot, but even he isn’t above a foul mouth and a taste for gratuitous violence. Gutter-mindedness is so strong a theme that even Jess’ grandmother makes suggestive comments upon occasion. The book probably isn’t appropriate for anyone under the age of 13. People who either brave Girl, 15, Charming But Insane and enjoy it or are looking for a similar alternative should try Jacob Have I Loved, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Woman in the Wall, Faith, Hope, and Chicken Feathers, and A Time Apart. (February, 2005)