Lottie Biggs is Not Mad - Hayley LongPages: 230
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: 3rd July 2009
Other Titles by This Author: The World of Elli Jones, Fire and Water, Vinyl Demand, Killburn Hoodoo
Am I jealous that my best friend has a boyfriend? Does that mean I’m tragic??? Is my current hair colour (melody deep plum) better than that dodgy custard colour I tried out last week? Perhaps I should go out with Gareth Stingecombe - even though I don’t fancy him the least tiniest bit. If I don’t fancy Gareth Stingecombe the tiniest bit, why am I obsessing about his manly thighs?
This is a book about all the important questions in life. It’s definitely not about sitting in my wardrobe or having a mental disturbance of any kind…
Lottie Biggs is Not Mad is Hayley Long’s fantastic new novel. I definitely wasn’t expecting what I got.
I loved the idea behind this book. It’s Lottie’s Extended Personal Writing English coursework filled with pictures, drawings and lots of other very cool things. I wish my coursework was as cool as that! The extra bits were really great additions that completely made the book for me.
At some points I found Lottie to be a bit annoying. She was quite often rude and pretty self-involved, like a lot of teenagers actually! Regardless of that she was incredibly funny. The moments when her mouth ran away with her were pure brilliance and really made me giggle, however I did feel that Hayley Long was slightly copying the Georgia Nicolson books at some points. She is a really great character.
I expected Lottie Biggs is Not Mad to be a light, funny read but it actually had a lot more depth to it than that. There were lots of complex issues and touchy subjects that were broached through Lottie’s coursework (well, it’s more of a diary really) that aren‘t often explored in YA books. Opinions were expressed on these areas without being preachy and in a way that teens and younger teens will respond to.
Lottie Biggs is Not Mad is a great book that will appeal to fans of Susan Juby’s Alice series. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel Lottie Biggs is Not Experienced.
Sophie
I had many of the same thoughts as you. In fact, this sounds a lot like my review. lol!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting! Like Georgia Nicolson with pictures?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a pretty good read. Maybe I might pick it up! :)
ReplyDeleteReally interesting review! Thank you.
ReplyDelete(And, hey, I'm reading Kiss of Life right now too!)
Jenny - Great minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteLuisa - Yay for zombies!
This book sounds really good. I think I might nick this book!
ReplyDeleteSounds great!
ReplyDeleteSounds really good - awesome review :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really fun read. Superb review!
ReplyDeleteI so don't agree with the Louise Renisson bit! Lottie is so different to Georgia. I found Georgia more annoying than Lottie. Lottie pretty much became my best friend after I read the book. Lottie Biggs is not Desperate is also funny, but unlike the first book, I don't carry it everywhere with me.
ReplyDelete