Book recommendation for teenagers and their Big People
[Review first published on Book Lore]
Without a doubt, this is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time, containing a unique brand of hilarity that would appeal to both adults and children. If you have pre-teen children make this a parent-child-book-club read that you can discuss and enjoy together.
Meet Adrian Mole; a spotty-faced, skinny, neurotic teenager. Through the diary format – enabling him to indulge in cathartic purging – and through a good deal of irony via self-betrayal, we experience teenage anxiety with Adrian. When he tries to woo his school crush we take pleasure in Adrian’s ineptitude as a poet; “Pandora! I adore ya!” The book is peppered with his adorable idiosyncratic expressions; “Just my luck!” and we laugh out loud at his neurotic immaturity and insecurities; “I think I am turning into an intellectual, it must be all the worry.”
It is clear that, although this book is designed to entertain, Townsend uses it as a vehicle for social commentary. Themes include feminism, the breakdown of typical roles relating to gender, politics, parenthood, childhood and adult morality. If you think this means a preaching, didactic lecture guess again as it is all cleverly expressed through humour and an engaging plotline.
In this first jaunt we see Adrian join the Good Samaritans Group where he forms a bond with Bert Baxter, an old-age pensioner. Adrian eagerly joins the club, with the altruistic aim of being the ideal Samaritan. The fact that he gets to “miss maths on Monday afternoons” too is just a bonus of course. Adrian’s relationship with Bert Baxter is often touching and serves its purpose of conveying social commentary on the relationship between young and old. It also imparts a great deal of humour. Whether this is from Adrian’s childish observations “you smell, I don’t” or his many laborious tasks to aid Bert “He told me when I was helping him into the toilet.”
Although Townsend has utilised comedy when portraying these characters, creating various scenes of mirth, she is also expressing her indignation at the poor treatment of the elderly. This is just one example of how the book attacks society and works on many plateaus, if you care to look for them. A good basis for discussion of some tricky issues with your teen/ pre-teen.
Recommended: Yes
Book published: 1989
Read a free sample of the book by clicking the image below