BAD GIRLS

Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt Rating: 09/10 Age: 8+ Genre: Fiction, Friendship Pages: 192 Published in: May 1996 Main Characters: Mandy, Tanya, Kim and her gang, Mandy’s mother and father.

Synopsis:   Mandy White is a shy, timid 10-year-old girl. She feels very upset to go to school as she is constantly being pelted with rude remarks and bullying. This is because her mum is 55 years old and her dad is 62. They often treat Mandy like a small child and make her wear baby clothes. There are bullies in Mandy’s class called Kim, Melanie and Sarah. They usually torment Mandy about her family life, and they come so far when Mandy decides not to go to school. No one wants to be her friend and Mandy is usually left all by herself when it came to picking groups. One day, while Mandy looks out of her window, she spots a pretty, orange-haired girl pushing a pram along the road. Mandy soon finds out that this girl’s name is Tanya, and she is 14 years old. Tanya and Mandy develop such an amazing friendship that Mandy goes to play with Tanya very day! Tanya is cool and pretty, with all the latest fashions. Mandy wishes she could be just like her. Tanya and Mandy go to the swimming pool together, and they even go shopping! But then, there appears to be huge problem. Mandy’s mum thinks that Tanya is a ‘bad girl’ and a bad influence for her daughter, and that she should not go and play with her any longer. Mandy's little world and hope of having a friend comes tumbling down which makes her upset and annoys her beyond her imagination… One day, Mandy comes home from school to be greeted by Tanya who is waiting for her. As she rushes to meet her, Kim and her gang pops up out of nowhere, and starts  hitting Mandy. Tanya immediately shouts at the bullies, which leaves them feeling frozen with shock. Yet again, Tanya proves to be Mandy's best friend!   The story unfolds and now it's Mandy's turn to have a shock of her life! As a usual routine while girls are having leisurely stroll around shopping mall , Tanya does something very unusual, something that is way beyond Mandy's imaginations, a thing that Mandy had never dreamed of doing herself. What did Tanya do? What happened to the bullies and did they get defeated? Mandy is sure that Tanya can only get her out of trouble, not into it… or could she? Open this magical story about friendship to find out!

Why I like this book:   I like this book because it really shows how true friends and true friendships find their way to people who need it. It shows how Mandy stood up to Kim and her gang even though they were affecting her so much that she didn’t go to school. The moral in the story is that even if someone bullies you or calls you names, you can always tell someone and they will be able to help.