LBD: It's a Girl Thing

Publishers Weekly

Three British 14-year-old best friends (Les Bambinos Dangereuses) can't get permission to go to a summer rock concert, so they decide to throw their own, featuring the best bands from their school. "A satisfyingly entertaining, fun, breezy novel," wrote PW. Ages 12-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

VOYA

Move over Georgia and Angus, the LBD is taking over! Meet Fleur, Claude, and Ronnie, the sassy and sophisticated fourteen-year-old Brits who comprise the Les Bambinos Dangereuses, otherwise known as the LBD. Banned from attending the ultra-cool Astlebury Music Festival by their parents, the LBD decides to host Blackwell Live, a musical festival to showcase their school's talent, the proceeds going to charity. After winning over their skeptical headmaster and securing financial backing from Fleur's James Bond-obsessed father, the LBD is on their way to planning the party of the year. The road to success is never easy and the LBD encounters many obstacles along the way, namely Blackwell's own diva-in-training, Panama Goodyear, whose group Catwalk is not afraid to commit extortion to get top billing. Nevertheless, in typical LBD style, the girls keep their cool and pull off an unforgettable event. Narrated by Ronnie, the least confident member of the trio, the LBD's story has all the right ingredients for a hit teen novel: larger-than-life protagonists, sparkling dialogue, and enormous teen appeal. Forget booktalking. The controversial cover art-depicting a denim-clad derrière with the t-bar of a thong showing and an LBD tattoo on the upper right cheek-will single-handedly sell this book and possibly raise a few eyebrows in conservative communities. Teen girls will have no trouble relating to Ronnie's insecurities, and the subplot dealing with her mother's departure from home is equally as compelling as the main plot in this strongly recommended purchase. It is a must-buy. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined asgrades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, G. P. Putnam's, 288p,
— Aimee Lurie

Children's Literature

When their no-fun parents won't allow Ronnie, Claude, and Fleur to attend a nearby music festival, the fourteen-year-old decides to produce a concert at their school. Soon the LBD (Les Bambinos Dangereuses) find themselves grappling with an uptight headmaster, cutthroat contestants, and financial ruin. Meanwhile main character Ronnie mopes over unattainable guitarist Jimi. After a frantically busy week, Ronnie realizes that her mother has moved out. This is shattering, but Claude and Fleur patch her up with news of huge ticket sales. With the help of their not-so-hopeless dads, hot lads from across town, and a mysterious stranger, they pull off a smashing concert. Ronnie's parents and Jimi all come to their senses and mend Ronnie's heart. This boisterous "chick lit" is redeemed by skillful comic writing and creative insults ("She's two chicken wings short of a buffet.").With a light touch, Dent exposes the fickleness of boys and parents and the stunning ruthlessness of teen rivalry. U.S. teens will soon get the gist of the British slang and begin wittering on, snogging, and laughing like drains. 2003, Penguin Putnam, Ages 12 to Adult.
— Ann Philips

KLIATT

Here is another engagingly wacky narrator from Great Britain; think of the Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison; created by a contributor to British teen magazines and column writer for the Guardian and More! magazine. Dent seems totally comfortable with her teenage characters, and their style, language, and interests. LBD, by the way, stands for Les Bambinos Dangereuses, three girlfriends, one of whom is Ronnie (Veronica), the narrator of this tale. The girls fail to get permission from their parents to attend a rock festival that would entail their staying overnight, so instead they plan a festival at their school, which turns out to be wildly successful. All of this happens quickly, within days, and Ronnie tells about everything; parents, clothes, teachers, boyfriends, hopes and fears; at a mad pace, with brutal honesty. She talks like this: "Lawrence "Loz" Ripperton (aka "Dad" or "Keeper of the Wallet") doesn't like arguing. He's all about peace and love, is my old man. It's a good job really, as in our household: 1) I quite enjoy a good row and 2) Mum positively relishes a proper bust-up." One of the LBD is Fleur, who is gorgeous and has boys always interested in her. The other LBD is Claude (Claudette), a successful student who manages to hide her pranks behind her wonderful reputation. The antics the three get up to are harmless, really, and for all their talk, the girls actually have very little interest in sex beyond "snogging" (kissing) their boyfriends. This will be a big hit with all the readers who enjoy madcap narratives. KLIATT Codes: JS; Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2003, Penguin Putnam, 275p.,
— Claire Rosser

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-The three LBDs (Les Bambinos Dangereuses) want to attend the Astlebury Music Festival but, alas, are forbidden to go. Ronnie, Fleur, and Claudette have hit a wall and their parents refuse to budge, so it's no music, no partying, and, most of all, no "million totally lush festival-going boys." The three 14-year-olds devise a plan, though-they will stage their own music festival as part of the school's Summer Garden Party-but the project details prove much more difficult than they anticipated. Complicating matters are boyfriend lust, a school principal, temperamental artists, and, of course, parents. The characters are well drawn and appealing with their typical teenage foibles, and the plot, which moves at a steady pace, is a nice mix of humor and seriousness. Dent's first novel is a delightful read and easily makes the transition from England to America. Fans of Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging (HarperCollins, 2000) and Ann Brashares's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Delacorte, 2001) will welcome this book.-Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Stymied from attending the Astlebury Music Festival by their parents, three British girls in Year 9-they call themselves Les Bambinos Dangereuses-decide to have their own. Surprisingly, they garner permission from the headmaster to host Blackwell Live. At first, this is relentlessly hip and snide as Ronnie, short for Veronica Ripperton, introduces her parents, her friends, her crushes, and her music. Fleur is a gorgeous boy magnet, with snogging (twirly tongues and all) usually leading to heartbreak. Claude, short for Claudette, is an angelic-looking overachiever with a penchant for getting the other girls into trouble. About midpoint when the characters have been introduced and the plans for the festival are rolling, the subplot of Ronnie's bickering parents gets more focus and the aggravating slang lightens up to make the second half more enjoyable. A Rennison imitation, or in LBD terms, not quite as big a "fat sack of flatulent poo-flavored mess" as it starts out to be. (Fiction. YA)