Diary of a Chav: The Fame Diaries, by Grace Dent

Another delightful entry into Dent's series. Not the strongest, but happily this one seems to kind of wind up Shiraz's search for a way to return to school, which made me very glad.
I hope she writes more of these, but am beginning to sadly suspect this is the last- I'm so glad I got to read them.

Diary of a Snob: Money Can't Buy Me Love, by Grace Dent

Second book in Dent's hugely enjoyable new series, based on Poppet Montague-Jones and her adventures in trying to find herself amid the trappings of quasi-royalty and her eccentric family. Really fun.

Diary of a Snob: Poor Little Rich Girl, by Grace Dent

87th in line to the throne, Poppet Zanzibar Montague-Jones has led a very sheltered life, but things get real in this fantastic start to a new series by the always enjoyable Grace Dent. Loved it.

Diary of a Chav: Ibiza Nights, by Grace Dent

Fun new addition to Dent's wonderful Diary of a Chav series. Shiraz and her friend Carrie go off the rails a bit in this one, but Shiraz's charm carries the day, and it was a quick fun read, if not the best of the series.

LBD: It's a Girl Thing, by Grace Dent

Funny English YA, but nowhere near as good as Dent's FANTASTIC Diary of a Chav series. This was sweet and well done, but lacked the characterization that really made Diary of a Chav transcend the genre.

Posh and Prejudice, by Grace Dent

Fun and breezy sequel to the hilarious Diary of a Chav. Shiraz Bailey Wood (named for the drinks her parents enjoyed the night she was conceived) astounds her parents, her school, her boyfriend, and herself by doing really well on her GSCEs, and is given the opportunity to study for her A-levels in the 6th form at what is derogatively known in the press as "SuperChav Academy."
This was still a funny witty set piece, but Shiraz's intellectual growth is taken seriously, and her gradual realization of opportunities beyond what she has thought of before reads as genuine, and her fears are understandable, as is her growing excitement and confidence. I love this series, and really hope to see Shazzer take on University.
Happily for me, the Posh and Prejudice in the title does not mean it's another Austen take-off- although Shiraz does have to read Pride and Prejudice, it really does refer to the prejudice some of the more posh students display to Shiraz and her language, clothes, and earrings. So that was refreshing! (Unlike, Scones and Sensibility, Prada and Prejudice, and so on.)

Diary of a Chav, by Grace Dent

This was fantastic. The voice was perfect- I could hear Essex girl Shiraz saying everything, and I could see her and I could see Collette Brown, and Carrie and Bezzer and it was funny and sad and vulgar and kind of depressing. Shiraz at her "superchav academy", waiting to get out at 16 to get a job at a sporting goods shop to earn some real money was heartbreaking, and as she began to look at her real life options the book took on a whole new level. People don't talk about social mobility much in YA.

It was so great (interesting?) to read a UK YA novel that wasn't about the middle class. Georgia Nicolson, for all her flirting and lipgloss, goes to a 'nice' school with 'nice' friends and the boys she and Jools avoid in the park are the very boys that this Shiraz and her mate Carrie eye and ignore and blow bubble gum at, and what's-her-name from the Girl, 15 books is clearly well off what with the trips to France (not package tours) and so on.

Shiraz's neighbor Uma with the ASBO and her 'work experience' at the bhaji packing plant were so well written.

One thing I am struck by, is how the heck did big hoop earrings and tracksuits and hoodies lined with fake fur become the international uniform of the... I don't know if there's a politically correct term for this and I feel like I'm on edgy ground, but what the heck? Was there a memo? UK, Rhode Island- big hoops and skinny headbands, eyeliner and gobs of lipgloss, fake tans and fake nails, rap and cars- amazing.