Screwed
by Joanna Kenrick
Marsha Webb is fifteen years old. She and her friend, Faith, are having a competition to see who can "shagÓ the most boys, and Faith is winning. Marsha boasts that she can pull any boy she wants, so Faith holds her to that by betting her £50. Marsha is a little concerned when Faith selects Rich, a quiet boy in their year group as the target. Faith and Marsha normally pick up older boys and Rich is nothing like their usual victims. Even though a change of tactics will be needed, Marsha is still confident that she can win the bet, however, she isn't counting on her feelings getting in the way.
Given the subject matter of this book there is understandably quite a lot of explicit content Đ a note on the back of the cover warns potential readers/buyers about this so there should be no surprises. I read the book and it was quickly picked up by two of our daughters - Rachel (17) and Laura (15).
In this book Joanna Kenrick manages to address the sensitive and controversial issue of underage sex from the teenager's point of view, rather than from the view of a judgmental adult. The characters are very realistic and easy to relate to as everyone knows a Marsha or a Faith. Rather than preaching to the reader about responsibility and self respect, Kenrick sends out a more subtle message through Marsha, as the character slowly comes to terms with her feelings about her motherŐs death and her strained relationship with her father.
Marsha gradually realises the way she has been striving for affection isnŐt the only way to get it. The reader is drawn into MarshaŐs world and is rooting for her to find real happiness for herself.
Kenrick has written a real page-turner of a book that should appeal to both girls and boys, hooking the reader from the first paragraph and keeping them riveted until the very end.