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The worry website ISBN: 9780440864806
Sharratt, Nick and Wilson, Jacqueline
Published by Corgi Yearling, 2003
The worry website is super-zany teacher Mr Spud's idea. He sets it up so all the pupils in his class can type in their worries anonymously and their classmates can comment and help. This set-up gives the perfect structure for seven short stories about seven different problems. Holly is worried that she will get a stepmother, even though she quite likes her; Greg likes a particular girl in the class, but is too shy to tell her; Claire has watched a scary video and has nightmares; William thinks he is useless at everything; Samantha's dad has left home to live with another woman who is having his baby; Lisa's father has started abusing her mother (this story was written by 12 year old Lauren Roberts) and she is unable to express her worry on the website; and Natasha, who is in a wheelchair and has communication difficulties and wants to be in the school concert. These problems are all solved (except Lisa's) usually with the aid of Mr Spud and the assorted classmates. Realistically, some are not really solved - William really is pretty useless - but with goodwill all round, everyone comes out feeling better. Sharratt's usual comic pictures fizz with life.
Age: 9+