Diary of a Parent Trainer

Gr 5–8—Although this humorous novel starts slowly, it picks up as 13-year-old Katie Sutton plots to ruin her mother's relationship with her boyfriend, Stuart. Set in an English village, this novel, presented as a "User's Guide" to adults, is almost entirely populated with Katie's relatives. Katie fancies herself the world's leading expert on grown-ups and describes all their behaviors from "Angry Mode" or "Depressed Mode" to "Delirious Mode" and how best to manage them. "Familiarization with these is essential before difficult maneuvers are attempted," she advises. The tone is definitely British, but it will not be off-putting to American readers. When Katie and her sister hatch a plot to get rid of Stuart, extended family members get in on the act. Meanwhile one of Katie's best friends has started hanging out with Katie's ex-boyfriend, and Katie realizes she still likes him. Her younger brother adds some bright bits of humor. Readable and funny but not remarkable, this novel makes a good choice for any collection that needs more girl-centered humor.—Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA