confused teenagers with confused rich parents drive around an England ...
927952
confused teenagers with confused rich parents drive around an England that has gone back to fortified towns and not much else.  incredibly realistic to not much effect. try Tom Jones or Moll Flanders.
2352138
I almost had a hard time believing this could be possible. It's actually a good sense of horror as it shows the influence whether good, or bad adults have on children. Parents the fact that you're doing everything possible to have the best for you children doesn't necessarily mean that they will have the best. We as parents can only remember to look within ourselves, and make sure we're doing everything to let our children know we love them, and want to do right by them. This shows parents looking outside of themselves by sending Christina to school on the mainland of Maine, and entrusting the Shevvfords to care for her while she goes to school there on the mainland, but as soon as she gets there weird things begin to happen. Christina is with 3 other children, and they are 17 year old Avra, 16 year old Benj, 14 year old Michael, and Christina's 13. Avra's almost convinced the the sea wants to take one of them, and Christina's convinced that Shevvford's are up to no good, but due to New England stoicism, and the fact that the Shevvfords are that good at convincing the world that they have nothing but the best intentions for the children Christina has a hard time finding an audience, and for the most part not being able to fit in. It's not that they don't believe her it's just that they're so busy with thier own lives that they don't want the stress of finding out the truth, or if that was true about the dead bodies, and disappearance of 2 other students, and not to mention getting people to believe what's being said. I know that children getting to get parents to slow down, and realize that everything is not all black and white, but more complex, and children need to be believed when they speak the unbelievable, and etc. etc. I just look back on this, and can certainly feel the parents were in the wrong by not listening to their children. This is something that all parents can take n note of.
1497496
Parents don't understand why, but the kid loves it.
1472422
Pretty funny in a retro kind of way - a boy talks morosely about his crazy parents and moans about their annoying habits, blaming stuff that goes wrong in his life on the fact that they behave like a couple of teenagers!
2958407
Dawn Buckle's family is strange. Her father and grand-father could be Aspergers with the keen interest they have in their respective hobbies: wall-clocks and game-shows. Dawn's mother always has such a lot of work she must do. When the S.H.H. (Strictly Hush-Hush) ask if Dawn can come work for them during the summer, Dawn's mother says:

  "So Dawn would be out from under my feet ... I mean she'd be taken care of for the whole of the summer holidays?"

And I thought I was bad. I realize there are a great deal of children who live in homes where they are ignored. What a challenge this must be for the child. For Dawn, the appearance of Emma Cambridge is a gift. Finally, a person who actually notices her.

You see, Dawn Buckle is the kind of girl who seems to be invisible. She could be standing next to you and you would not notice her. She is average looking and has nothing that is extraordinary about her. A lot of us fit into that category. In fact this used to be me. I'm of average looks, like comfortable clothes, am observant, have had various types of stuffed animals and like information. My parents though, well they were a bit more present and would never have let me go off on a P.S.S.T. type of stay - that is unless I had recently gotten myself into trouble.

That is the trouble about us quiet ones. We are often underestimated. As Dawn finds out being underestimated is a bonus in the world of espionage. Just because she is seldom noticed does not mean that Dawn is incapable.

Dawn's first lesson in spying is that things are not always as they seem. As she and Emma arrive at the headquarters of P.S.S.T. (Pursuit of Scheming Spies and Traitors) Dawn is puzzled:

  "Emma opened the front gate, knocking the stalk of a magnificent sunflower. Its heavy head swung to one side, revealing a sign behind it that read "Dampside Hotel".

Dawn is a prime example of not being what she seems. This is a great example to young boys and girls as to how girls really are. Not all girls but a lot.

For some strange reason, the apparently dead Mundo Meek seems to know too much about what is currently going on inside P.S.S.T. But is he really dead? Therein lies the mystery and the suspense.

Delightful names and acronyms are used by Anna Dale. Ms. Dale has managed to create a story that is exciting, funny, interesting and informative all at the same time. Her proposed age group target of 8-12 years seems appropriate.

[...]
501427
Loose at the base, jiggles in all directions when you're driving.
410245
I just started this novel and immediately have to question the verisimilitude. A late-aged teen flies to her mother's funeral party from the UK on the spur of the moment. She is a minor who quite obviously has no passport. But guess what, she is able to fly anyway. When you start a novel that obviously an editor didn't catch something as obvious as that, you wonder just what next.
3157125
The mirrors are very loose and move every time the road is bumpy. They look cool though.
4223102
Teens have a lot of trouble sorting out consequences, especially when they have been wronged in some way. It is especially hard in such a moral community such as the Amish.
260096
One can never tell whats around the corner in life and sometimes its best not to know

After a successful working career and bringing up their family, Paul and Suzanne Martin found themselves in financial difficulties and have no choice but to make drastic and life changing decisions.

After coming to terms with their position, they decide to leave their comfortable life in Yorkshire and take over the joint caretaker ship of a beautiful villa in the south of France.

As they take over the positions from their very helpful predecessors, they find themselves on a steep learning curve, having to adapt to being at the beck and call of their wealthy employers; whilst at the same time undertaking jobs they had previously been used to delegating to others.

However, with true British fortitude, this couple cope with everything which is thrown at them, and as an expat I had to chuckle at some of the situations they found themselves in.

This is a fly on the wall insight into what this type of work is really like, and an interesting glimpse behind the high walls at life in the villas of the rich and famous.

I would thoroughly recommend this as an enjoyable read, either just for fun, or as an affirmation that as an expat in France, you are not the only one to have had such experiences.
1199753
Berardelli does a great job of coaching parents on 1) how to cope with teaching your teen to drive, and 2) how to engage your teen to see the responsibility and honor having a drivers license really is.  My book is a bit tattered. I have 3 teen boys, 2 with licenses. I used his suggestions, particularly the 100-hour lesson log, to negotiate expectations for driving in our family.  My husband and I take teaching our kids to drive very seriously. We have not delegated it to the school or a driving instructor.  Cars are just too fast, too many drivers are either ignorant of the laws of physics or don't think they apply to them in their cars, and we all just make mistakes on the road. My sons attend a rural, private high school with @160 students. In the past 4 years, 2 teens have died in car crashes.  It's the greatest fear I have, not random terrorism.
I highly recommend this book as a dialog tool with your teen. I have used it as a "mediator" of sorts, turning to it to stop arguements about driving techniques with my sons.  Every high school driving instructor should distribute this book to all their parents!
3979617
The untimely death of a local councillor (from natural causes!) results in ructions as the posher villagers gang up on the crumbling council estate on their doorstep. Although the adult characters are well drawn, it is the teenagers who steal the show. As in Harry Potter, it is absolutely clear who the heroes and villains are. A fun, escapist read.
4787119
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Brett's Dad invited him to come with him to England. Since they live in the US they have to board a plane. Brett was excited and wondered why they fly up-side-down. Dad asked why do you think that? Brett answered him: The clouds are under us instead of over us. Dad smiles and explains him, that they fly high above the clouds.

Landing in England, Brett find out, that they were driving on the "Wrong" side of the wrote and had the steering wheel on the wrong side. But Dad explained again, that that is not wrong, that they drive in England like that. Everyone.

Brett wondered, while all was so different. But Dad explained again that being different does not mean that it's wrong.

And then they visit a castle. what a great time Brett had and he found out more things. He loved the trip with his Dad and learned a lot. Different is good not bad.

Well done Ann Morris. A great book for children to learn, with great colorful drawings. Wonderful book.
591248
This is a gripping story about a family in England that finds a surprise when investigating their parents' past, of which, even the parents weren't aware!
735257
If there is anything that will bring you peace while driving with a teenager...this may be it. Knowing that the drivers around us are aware that we have a learner driving. **Remember to take them off though when you're driving =)
2165300
A story about a lower class mother who struggles to make sure her gifted son gets the education he deserves. The story is set in England from he ending of WWI to the beginning of WWII.  Harry, the son, almost marries his stepsister.  Plus numerous other twists.
4907562
This book portrays how easily a teen, even with good parents can make one wrong choice and end up destroying thier life. A glimpse into the thought process and feeling of a good teen going down the wrong road without even realizing it. A great read for parents.