The Actual Real Reality of Jennifer James: A Reality TV Novel

by Gillian Shields

Book Overview

Jennifer James is your everyday brainy, unpopular girl. When a reality TV show chooses her school as the subject of a new show, Jennifer is surprised to be chosen as a participant. The grand prize is entry into the elite St. Willibald's College, and Jennifer's determined to win. But it's not so easy, especially when there are the complications of: *a blonde bombshell rival *a combative feminist mother *a distracting love interest and the prospect...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060822406
• ISBN13: 9780060822408
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.0" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

What do you get when you take the idea for an in-school reality TV show and cross it with a character reminiscent of Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson? One of the freshest and cutest novels around, THE ACTUAL REAL REALITY OF JENNIFER JAMES. Jennifer James is not the most popular girl in her not-so-posh school, London Road Comprehensive. Boys may not necessarily notice her and her family may not come from money. But the one thing that may be working for Jennifer is when the newest reality TV show, Down the Bog, comes to her school and offers one lucky student a scholarship to St. Willibald's College. This could be the chance for Jennifer to finally go to a good school, and all she needs is to be entered into the competition--but it may not be that easy. How the show works is that they choose two kids per grade and have a group of celebrities act as teachers at the school. The entire time, cameras will be showing all the action that is happening inside the school, and each week there will be a certain competition that the contestants and celebrities will have to compete in. And each week, viewers will call in and the one student and the one celebrity with the lowest number of votes will have to leave. Fortunately, Jennifer is oddly enough chosen to be a contestant. But that may be the only good news. There seems to be many struggles that Jennifer is going to have to face, like the very popular and very rude Tallulah, bullying her way through the competition and practically causing Jennifer's life to be miserable. Then there's Marcus, the guy who Jennifer has a crush on but who also seems to be on Tallulah's radar. And then there is Jennifer's feminist mother Jocasta, who hates the idea of Jennifer being on a reality show. For now, trying to win the competition could be the hardest obstacle that Jennifer has ever faced. THE ACTUAL REAL REALITY OF JENNIFER JAMES is witty, fun, and very compelling. Readers will get so attached to Jennifer that they will desperately root for her all the way, whether she wins or not. Gillian Shields captures the true essence of how it feels to want something very badly and to do the greatest thing to get it. The one thing that was on my mind during the reading was hoping for there to be a sequel to this fantastic book. Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Fantastic and funny

It took me a few pages to get into this, but I absolutely LOVED it and couldn't put it down after the first chapter. It's hilarious, quick-witted, modern and smart. Great characters and all i could think is: I can't wait for the movie! (which i don't know if there will ever be one, but if any production company is smart, they'll buy the rights!)

Mega-brilliant!

Fantastic, hilarious, moving and compelling. I could put it down and it never once let me down. A must, must read.

Excellent! Please keep them coming.

Not only is Jennifer James funny and entertaining but it let's me know that I don't have to be rich and go to the 'right schools' to succeed. I just have to believe in myself Nina P (NY)

Brilliant funny and just plain brilliant

This is the best book I have read this year. So funny and clever but with an insight into the reality of life through the distortion of supposed reality TV. Though the story is set in England this only adds to the fun with hilarious guides to Brit speak. I desperately hope there is a second 'Jennifer' book soon