Phoebe has never been considered as smart, but after a school speech everyone is shocked. Soon after, she is asked to join a school debating team. She is surprised, but this means after school meetings, competitions and hanging out with Jagath, her new teammate and secret crush.
But when Phoebe’s dad discovers she is hanging out with Jagath, he strongly disagrees with it. Phoebe struggles to understand why her dad is so against him, he doesn’t even know him! Now Phoebe has to decide whether to stand up for what she believes in.
Holy Crushamoly!, the newest book in the Girl V the World series, definitely lives up to the high standards of the previous books. Phoebe goes through struggles with her family and all the themes are completely relevant to the average tween of today.
The character I thought was the best was Phoebe. She was strong in times of trouble and she stood up for what she believed in. But most importantly, she learned to look at things form another perspective.
In the friends side of things, her friends were completely supportive, more so the ones that she thought didn’t care. Phoebe learnt that maybe her friends know more than she thinks.
I really love this series and I always recommend them to my friends. The themes are completely relevant (peer pressure, friendships, dating and family issues etc). I would recommend these books for girls aged 11-13.
- This review by Elizabeth, aged 12, daughter of Kids’ Book Review Managing Editor, Susan Whelan
Title: Holy Crushamoly! (Girl V the World)
Author: Thalia Kalkipsakis
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, $12.95 RRP
Publication Date: 1 September 2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742974101
For ages: 11-13
Type: Middle Fiction
