Synopsis: Bored? Fed up with yawning, day-dreaming, scuffing your trousers on the pavement? Worry no more. Inside this humble buke (blush) is all you need to know for life-skills in the 21st century (yeech). A true voyage of the soul from moi, Letty Chubb, aged 15.

Review: Ros Asquith is well known for her cartoon contributions to the Education Guardian, for her illustrations for the work of other children's writers and, as Letty Chubb, for her series of books dealing with the problems of teenage life. The latest of Letty's advice manuals for adolescents discusses those aspects of human existence which affect those at the crucial age of 15, the topics arranged alphabetically, from Abseiling to Walking. Letty's own life: home, school and social, frame and pervade these observations and advice, so that readers acquire a continuing story as well as the her comments on specific subjects. Asquith deals with a wide range of trivial subjects, from the trivial or frankly curious - Centaur: Attractive beast, half man, half horse. Could this be what we all want really? - to the serious, life-threatening, often taboo, ones such as Self Harm. Her advice in the latter, given as El Chubb, is practical, truthful and accessible by the readers, and is backed up by an up to date list of appropriate organizations which could be contacted for further advice. The slight on going story of Letty's life is sufficiently generalistic for readers to find enough points of contact with their own to maintain their interest.

 This book has several agendas, and the serious advice and support offered, set within a readable, well illustrated story, is admirable. No Key Stage 3/4 reader, male or female, could fail to find topics for discussion and wise counsel here. It would also be interesting for this age group to consider Asquith's style: for me, more 50 than 15, the use of mis spellings (skule, buke, komputer, werld) is too reminiscent of Molesworth (not Mrs.!), contrived and rather patronizing. What do teenagers feel?

2006-10-07