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Girt for a flirt alert

Girt for a flirt alert

Tony Bradman(aged 43¾) surveys a selection of advice books for teenagers

1     DEAR DIARY - nice    in garden.    however, compared to righ-
 lady from The Daily4     Friends or Enemies? (Hod- teous indignation prompted by
 Telegraph rang to ask der, £3.99), by Anita Naik, next book off pile. Enter the
 if yours truly would review very like reading magazine Boy-Zone: Sport Sorted for
 books that explain mysteries articles strung together to Girls (Piccadilly, £5.99), by
 of life, relationships, and so make book. Not surprising, as Caroline Plaisted, turns out to
 on, to teenagers. Said yes, as author is agony aunt of Just be a bluffer’s guide to sport for
 own family contains (just) Seventeen, publication own girls eager to impress teenage
 several adolescents, and 17-year-old subscribes to, and males with their understanding
 yours truly realises teen years whose letters page tackles of the offside rule. Feel this is
 can be difficult and angst- things even yours truly has obscurely patronising to both
 filled. Have dim memory of never heard of. The book, sports-crazed girls and boys
 going through it, and feel however, not so hair-raising, with brains.
 advice books might be useful. but deals with friendships, and8     Reach bottom of pile and
2     Large parcel arrives and is full of sensible advice on find Victoria McCarthy’s
 yours truly thinks of cunning subject close to every teen Body Talk (Hodder, £3.99),
 wheeze: order offspring to girl’s heart. another magazine-style vol-
 read books. Alas, 13-year-old5     Not quite sure how to take ume aimed at helping teen
 son engaged in permanent Boys Behaving Badly (Picca- girls in the quest for “Lurve”
 phone conversation (to Mars, dilly, £5.99), by Jeremy by reading “body signals” as
 judging by bills); 17-year-old Daldry. At first glance, said they go on “flirt alerts” and
 daughter last seen leaving volume appears to be a hand- try to “snare” their men. Feel
 house on platform-soled train- book for teenage boys, with less said the better on this one,
 ers - estimated time of return, advice on puberty, looking and am reaching saturation
 early hours of morning; their cool, dating, and so on, all set point with prose dominated by
 19-year-old sister is now out in a rIoT of wiLd interjections of the “Aargh!
 costing family a fortune at tyPOGrapHY. Also thought I’m so depressed ’cos I can’t
 university. So thrown back on son had scribbled badly spelt, get a boyfriend” variety.
 own middle-aged resources. unfunny comments through-9     Finally decide to come up
3     First book off pile strikes out, but suddenly realise this with pithy conclusion on
 instant chord. Scan pages of supposed to make book seem books under review. Feel
 Help! My Family Is Driving rather sUbvERsiVe. some are good, many medi-
 Me Crazy! A Survival Guide6     Still cannot get son off ocre, and some not worth the
 for Teenagers (Piccadilly, phone, so forced to rely on paper printed on. No matter,
 £5.99), by Kathryn Lamb, for own judgment. Feel this book as most adolescents, like son,
 tips on how to get son off has plenty of good advice and on phone so much they have
 phone, but no luck. information, but am deeply no time to read them. Things
 Annoyingly, said book written irritated by presentation of looking up, though, as good
 from teenager’s point of view, same, although as yours truly lady wife seems interested in
 and includes excellent advice is by now (according to off- A Complete Guide to Kissing
 for adolescents on how to spring) well past use-by date, (Macmillan, £3.50), by Nick
 handle parents and siblings by this may simply be a function Fisher. Perhaps yours truly
 using flattery, bribery and of age. not past use-by date after all.
 diversionary tactics. Have7     Feelings regarding young
 buried Kathryn Lamb’s book Mr Daldry’s book very mild,'The Daily Telegraph