Like Other Girls

'Magnificent ... I recommend highly' Marian KeyesHere's what Lauren knows: she's not like other girls. She also knows it's problematic to say that - what's wrong with girls? She's even fancied some in the past. But if you were stuck in St Agnes, her posh all-girls school, you'd feel like that too. Here everyone's expected to be Perfect Young Ladies, it's even a song in the painfully awful musical they're putting on this year. And obviously said musical is directed by Lauren's arch nemesis. Under it all though, Lauren's heart is bruised. Her boyfriend thinks she's crazy and her best friend has issues of her own... so when Lauren realises she's facing every teenage girl's worst nightmare, she has nowhere to turn. Maybe she should just give in to everything. Be like other girls. That's all so much easier ... right?

For wit and pop culture it was spot on, and its handling of issues of access for Irish women to abortion services was absolutely heartbreaking (in a good and important way)., It's MAGNIFICENT. It all-but quivers with righteous anger. I recommend highly. Every Irish law-maker should be mandated to read this., Like Other Girls is an authentic read and you can really feel that the author cared about the issues within. The passion flows from the pages. I hope this book finds it's way into the hands of every Irish teenager., Hennessy's books are always packed with strong female characters This book had absolutely stellar parts. For wit and pop culture it was spot on, and its handling of issues of access for Irish women to abortion services was absolutely heartbreaking., Like Other Girls tackles a number of very sensitive topics without falling into that dangerous trap of becoming an issue novel, without moralising or preaching, and without demonising its protagonist or giving her an unrealistic 'happily-ever-after' type ending. It is also a funny book, filled with pop culture and musical references, and with a strong, snarky voice at its centre. It also has a fantastic cover - it's a label! for a book about labels! - designed by Leo Nickolls. To sum up - Like Other Girls is a fierce, feminist book that while not an easy read, is an important one. We need stories like Lauren's, and we need to repeal the eighth amendment.

Claire Hennessy is a writer, editor, and creative writing teacher based in Dublin, Ireland. Born in 1986, she has written several books for teenagers and regularly does author visits and writing workshops for schools, libraries and festivals.Claire is also a co-director and co-founder of the Big Smoke Writing Factory creative writing school in Dublin, teaches regularly for CTYI, and is the Puffin Ireland editor at Penguin. She is also the co-editor and co-founder of the literary journal Banshee. Follow Claire at www.clairehennessy.com or on Twitter: @clairehennessy