Don't Blame the Music ¦ Strictly for Laughs ¦ Binding Ties

Three books which would cut little ice with teachers as class texts or GCSE readers but which do offer third, fourth and fifth years - probably girls - membership of the often exclusive readers' 'club'. Reading a book is the first step; reading a book with doorways into more complex fiction could well be the second. So, in ascending order:

Don't Blame the Music contains some of the most dreadful rhyming couplets I've ever read - try 'lonesome/known some' and 'worrying/currying' for size! The book revolves around two sisters, Susan the conformist and Ashley, failed rock star, whose return wreaks havoc on home and family. It's melodramatic, sensationalist, predictable - Susan rejects preppy Anthony for sullen but sensitive Whit, aspiring rock musician, for example - but it contains insights into teenage male behaviour, tolerance, failure of parent/children relationships.

Strictly for Laughs more ambitiously aims to chronicle Pete and Joey's attempts to develop their own local radio programme after an opening is provided on the station by Pete's uncle. It's eternal triangle stuff - Joey's manic sense of humour hides her love for Pete whom she has to win from the glamorous Dinah - but there is sufficient thought given to boy/girl relationship issue to make reading the book worthwhile.

Finally, Binding Ties examines another ill-matched relationship - this time between Anne and Kyle - who is, inevitably, handsome and rebellious. Anne's family reacts in a variety of ways - all of them censorious - and Anne determines to leave home and follow Kyle. Eventually, she is disillusioned and returns - yes, you've guessed - sadder but wiser! Anne's internal struggle offers insights and points of contact and empathy to the reader.