The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾

Recommended by David C. Parkes, John A. Paulson Dean; George F. Colony Professor of Computer Science

Not only was Adrian dealing with acne, falling in and out of love, and difficult parents, but he was also worrying about the topics of the time, including the Falklands war, finally finding the Falkland Islands on a world map hiding under “a crumb of fruitcake.” Sue Townsend managed to weave together a narrative of bullying, teenage angst, and politics, and it all seemed fabulously grown-up.