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Chav: (n.): 1. A word that makes most Brits think of hoodies, hip hop, bling, and trouble. (It ain't a good fing, bruv.)
At the end of the school year, 16-year-old Shiraz Bailey Wood isn't expecting incredible grades. But when her test results come in, she's astonished to discover that not only did she pass them all, but that she's also actually clever! Emboldened by an invite to higher-level classes, Shiraz decides she can't waste her brain power frying eggs for minimum wage at the greasy spoon Mr. Yolk. So even in spite of her Mum's objections that it ain't her place, Shiraz enrolls in Superchav Academy's "Center of Excellence" to get even brainier.
Setting forth into the heady field of academia and hanging out with other boffin types seems like just the ticket to avoid getting stuck living like a chav forever in crappy Goodmayes Essex. Smooth-talking lads with whopping allowances tempt her-but Shiraz has to figure out: are these posh types really any better? Or maybe being a chav might not be all that bad-as long as it stands for Charming, Hilarious, Articulate, and Vibrant.
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
December 1, 2009 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
- ISBN: 9780316148528
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780316052597
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780316052597
- File size: 520 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 1090
- Text Difficulty: 7-9
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Reviews
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December 1, 2009
Gr 8-11-Shiraz Bailey Wood is a typical British 16-year-old from a working-class family. She waitresses at Mr. Yolk, proudly wears the gaudy bling her boyfriend buys her, and attempts to study, despite her school's bad reputation. Unfortunately, Shiraz is considered a "chav," which is "a bit like calling someone trailer trash." So when she surprisingly passes her exams and is invited to study advanced subjects, she is met with opposition from all sides. She is now hobnobbing with the smart kids, flirting with posh Joshua, and defending her choices to her boyfriend and mother. (Most readers will be shocked that Shiraz's mother pushes a silly part-time job over a college education.) But even Shiraz is guilty of prejudice as she unfairly labels a classmate a charity case. Regardless, the teen is a likable character with wit and charm, but her family is the true scene-stealer, particularly when her mom recounts how Shiraz tried to sell her younger brother at a school auction. Shiraz's diary is full of British slang, and readers are definitely going to need the glossary in the back."Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ"Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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