The Bad Karma Diaries

The Bad Karma Diaries by Bridget Hourican

This is the story of an eventful term: 2nd years Anna and Denise want to make money and have adventures to write up on the blog they're creating. They set up an above-board business running children's parties and a covert vigilante business - meting out other people's revenge (e.g. hiding gymbags, spoiling homework). They defend their actions by claiming that they're fighting injustice. Both explore the other sex - Anna is practical and sets herself up with boyfriends, Denise is romantic and dreams about boys. They are self-absorbed and wrapped up in each other and don't notice the real injustice under their noses: Denise is ignoring her younger sister, Justine, who is suffering. The book relates how they finally use their undoubted ingenuity for a good cause - saving Justine - and how they lose some of their self-absorption and widen their friendship to include others.

'A good read for young teens as it highlights issues such as bullying and internet safety'

's Way 'The narrative style of the book is bang up to date and spookily accurate ... Hourican very expertly blends the modernity and freshness of the teenage voices with the investigative and admonitory adult voices while never allowing her text to lapse into di -- Books for Keeps 'This clever story deals with bullying, teenage anxiety, boyfriends, girlfriends and internet safety. But in case that sounds rather worthy, it also has lots of wit and humour thrown in for good measure.'

'a resounding success'

'undeniably fresh and funny ... breathy OMG style ... the narration mimics the typical teenage butterfly brain ... Part diary, part blog which throws up interesting questions about the innocence - or not - of such a public forum for discussion'

'Bridget Hourican captures perfectly the importance of peer approval and censure in a world of predictive texts and Facebook communication'

'A good read, with realistic and believable events and characters which will strike a chord with the reader, who will want to know how it all turns out.'

'The book is aimed at readers in their early teens and it's packed with details of everyday life for the Irish school friends. It covers a lot of ground: friendship troubles, bullying, coping with families, first romance, online safety and so much more. I -- Chicklish Blog 'I adored this book and I didn't want it to end! Very highly recommended to readers aged 11+.'

'At school, she exacted revenge for payment and those long-ago days have inspired her tween fiction.'

'Sounds funny and light. Just what I'm in the mood for.'

'Entertaining debut novel ... A book unafraid to explore some of the less giggly aspects of early adolescence.'

'Thoroughly up-to-date in its inclusion of material from the worlds of blogging and texting.'

'Proving that Ireland is going through a fertile period for young adult fiction, Bridget Hourican's smart, funny Bad Karma Diaries.'

'Psst... got a pre-teen bookworm in the household? Pass on a copy of The Bad Karma Diaries.'

'very up to date'

'fantastic and entertaining ... Their blog is highly entertaining and the style of writing will appeal to teenagers and all those who are familiar with texting and with using social networking sites.'

'The Bad Karma Diaries focuses on themes that all teenagers can relate to ... the theme of bullying is very cleverly used in the book.'

'I really enjoyed this book ... it was so original and not like anything I have previously read. I really look forward to the next book written by Bridget Hourican.'

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