Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd is a well-written young adult novel about a likable 15-year-old named Savvy Smith. Sandra Byrd has created a character pre-teen and teen girls can relate to. It is the first in the London Confidential series.
Savvy and her family have just moved to London from Seattle and Savvy now attends Wexburg Academy. Her family has yet to find a church, Savvy feels isolated with no friends, and her sister's dog, Growl/Giggles drives her crazy. In an effort to find friends and because of her dream to be a journalist, Savvy applies for the job of reporter for the school newspaper. Asking for Trouble tells the story of Savvy's conflict over doing what is right and doing what will get her closer to what she wants at any cost.
Many pre-teen/teen novels these days seem to be miniature versions of books written for adults. For example, The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell lets the reader in on Carrie Bradshaw's life as a teenager. (Which isn't much different than her life as an adult.) Pretty Little Liars, also now a tv show, by Sara Shepard, has been described as the teenage version of Desperate Housewives. While this may be a realistic view of what some teen girls are doing, is it really the kind of image that should be glamorized and promoted to young girls?
Sandra Byrd's story about Savvy is one that does promote good values and a realistic view of teens without seeming preachy or fake. The characters aren't perfect and not all of them are people you would choose as friends. Isn't that how real life works? Savvy thinks about boys, fashion, and possessions. But she is also a girl who listens to God and reads her Bible. She tries to be honest and learn from her mistakes. She is definitely a girl that many parents would like to have as a friend for their daughters.
Read an interview with Sandra Byrd
The second title in the London Confidential series is Through Thick and Thin, with more titles to come. Sandra Byrd's books are available from online retailers like amazon.com and berean.com. They can also be found at Christian retailers like these in northern California.
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (March 4, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1414325975
List Price: $6.99
RDBC Bookstore
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Scripture House
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Visalia CA, 93277
(559) 635-0732 (559) 635-0732
Christian Connection
3144 G St Ste 145
Merced, CA 95340-1369
(209) 723-2900
Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books
319 Kasten Street
Mendocino, California 95460
(707) 937-2665
Copperfield's Books
1330 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga, California 94515
(707) 942-1616
The Children's Fiction Examiner received a copy of Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd from Tyndale House Publishers free of charge. The opinions expressed in this review are 100% those of the Examiner and there was no compensation given to the Examiner from Tyndale for this review.
