Module 15 - Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Summary: Georgia Nicolson keeps a diary of her life, including running around with her best friend Jas, the antics of her half-wild cat Angus, fashion, makeup, and, of course, boys. Georgia falls for Robbie (the sex god), and Jas falls for his older brother, Tom. Robbie starts dating a girl a year ahead of Georgia in school, but eventually, he comes around, and he and Georgia are able to engage in the "full-frontal snogging" of the title.


Rennison, L. (2003). Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging, confessions of georgia nicolson. New York, NY: HarperTeen.

My Impressions: This book is hilarious. I, admittedly, have an affinity for British humor, and many American girls would need to use the helpful glossary in the back, but the humor still shines through. The reviews compare Georgia to Bridget Jones, but I honestly think she is funnier. I laughed out loud several times in just the opening pages. Georgia is an imperfect person, which is relieving to read. So many books have these perfect, idealistic protagonists. There were times, as an adult, I disapproved whole-heartedly of what Georgia does, but overall, she is a typical teenager. She professes to hate school, except for the social aspect of it, she is obsessed with fashion and appearing "edgy" to impress the boy she likes. She and her friends make up lists to rank activity with the boys, she gossips, and she is embarrassed by her family. Typical teen. She ultimately hooks up with the "sex god" of her dreams, just before her mother announces a trip to New Zealand. The rest of Georgia's adventures are in a series - ten books in all.

Reviews:
"The 'confessions of Georgia Nicolson' include plenty of laughable situations involving disappearing eyebrows, a stuffed olive costume, and other catastrophes in the life of an unusual 14-year-old girl. But it's Georgia's frenetic, yet witty narration that elicits the best moments, as she ruminates on boys, death, parents, self-improvement, cats, yoga, and countless other topics. Her self-centered dramatics are fun because she describes them honestly and with fresh language peppered with slang and often unintended irony. Audio version available from Recorded Books." -- School Library Journal

Engelfried, S. (2005). Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. School Library Journal, 51(6), 57.  Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6387192.html.

"Sincerest flattery was surely Louise Rennison's intention with this unabashed imitation of Helen Fielding's adult bestseller, Bridget Jones's Diary. Fourteen-year-old Georgia Nicolson's journal is just like Bridget's: improbable but undeniably funny, with our comic British heroine forever finding herself in embarrassing predicaments....As in Fielding's novel, it's personality rather than plot that carries the book, and while Georgia isn't quite as hilarious as Bridget, she's a close second....One edge this American edition has over its adult counterpart is that the Brit talk has been left in, with an appended glossary provided by Georgia herself. This teenage Bridget Jones will appeal to young readers more interested in the concerns of their own age group, and Rennison's fans, like Helen Fielding's, will be glad to know there's a sequel forthcoming. It does seem less like writing and more like copying, but Bridget herself would probably applaud the author's audacity." -- Horn Book

Branbander, J. M. (2000). Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging; Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. Horn Book Magazine, 76(3), 320-321.  

Uses in the Library: Teen Read Week. Display encouraging kids to journal about their lives.