BOOK REVIEW
Annie taught us that reading good books ruins us for enjoying bad books.
Two teenage girls, Charlotte and Frankie are struggling to be interesting in a land of boring. Sounds familiar?
Tired of waiting for a life of adventure Charlotte decides to write a book chronicling their lives which will expectantly be monotonous. After Christmas rolls by, the pair come up with an idea to host a New Years Eve, fancy dinner party (even if it’s only them who are attending) It’s not like any other typical party advertised in teen movies; it’s just plain, simple and quite frankly, BORING. However, the closing events of the night lead to an unusual adventure, where; relationships are mended, friendships are formed, and lessons are learnt. Despite some humorous and relatable themes that may entertain adolescents regarding, the youths’ frustration and lack of interest towards school, Barrows authorial intent focuses on “throwing shade” on current authors who write teen fiction, attempting to manipulate the life of a teenager, making it increasingly intriguing yet highly fabricated and unrealistic at the same time.
Instead, Barrows centers her composition on a realistic and pragmatic level, where she incorporates a colloquial understanding with her teenage target audience, depicting a mutual respect for the difficult situations that they face on a day to day basis. For example, the introduction of family structures that vary throughout society, attempts to educate adolescents about the importance of acceptance and understanding.
After judging the novel too quickly I soon realised that the author implements irony throughout the novel, to enhance her mocking attitude regarding authors who fail to acknowledge the reality of teenage life. This includes the additional themes; sexual intercourse, sexual orientation, racism, gender discrimination, drug abuse and freedom of speech. The characters throughout the composition are realistic, (realistically bad mouthed), with defiant attitudes, big dreams to conquer the issues in the world and an archetypal inclination to love. The predicaments they face are not only plausible but further enable respondents with an opportunity to glimpse into lives beyond the pages, providing authority to interpret meaning through personal experience.
Anyone who is mature and convinced that his/her life is even remotely boring should check out Nothing, by Annie Barrows. This novel is strictly for SENIOR students only!
by T Singh, Year 11
Annie Barrows