The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet

by Natasha Farrant

Overview

In the tradition of Longbourn, Mr. Darcy's Diary, and Prom and Prejudice...

Lydia is the youngest of the five Bennet girls. She's stubborn, never listens, and can't seem to keep her mouth shut--not that she would want to anyway. She's bored with her country life and wishes her older sisters would pay her attention . . . for once! Luckily, the handsome Wickham arrives at Longbourn to sweep her off her feet. Lydia's not going to let him know THAT, of course, especially since he only seems to be interested in friendship. But when they both decide to summer in the fasionable seaside town of Brighton, their paths become entangled again. At the seaside, Lydia also finds exciting new ways of life and a pair of friends who offer her a future she never dreamed of. Lydia finally understands what she really wants. But can she get it? A fresh, funny, and spirited reimagining of Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet brings the voice of the wildest Bennet sister alive and center stage like never before.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545942829
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/25/2016
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Natasha Farrant is the author of The Things We Did for Love and the Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby series. Her writing was called "raucously funny" by the New York Times, and her books have been nominated for the Branford Boase Award, the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, and the Queen of Teen award. She lives in London, England. Follow her on Twitter at @NatashaFarrant1.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for After Iris:

"A study in the challenges of growing up and in the raucously funny habits of a family of eccentrics." —The New York Times

"Memorable... Funny and painful and tumultuous." —The Wall Street Journal

"An uplifting, memorable read." —Kirkus Reviews

"A fine read—funny and moving." —The Sunday Telegraph (UK)

From the Publisher

09/01/2016
Gr 7 Up—Everyone knows Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeth Bennet's story. Sister Lydia wants to change that. Farrant's enticing book, written to evoke Austen's style without attempting to replicate it, gives readers "the rest of the story." Lydia might have been portrayed as a flibbertigibbet in the source material, memorable for eloping with the charming scoundrel Mr. Wickham, but here she presents her take. Readers are introduced to the youngest Bennet's wonderfully snarky personality as she, naively at times, lays open English society in 1811. The 15-year-old may be flighty and immature, but her diary entries illustrate that societal structure and mores can be held responsible. Women had well-defined roles, and society did not look kindly on those who defied them. Adventurous Lydia longs to ride fast, learn to shoot, and see the world beyond Hertfordshire. Instead, she is viewed as a marriage commodity by a mother desperate to ensure her family's financial security. Lydia is aware that she was denied an education because her family considers her looks and disposition her chief assets. When she sneaks into a library in search of reading material to impress a young man, readers sense that although her motives are shallow, this encounter with literature may not be her last. In the despicable Wickham, Lydia finds a kindred spirit, someone who has the potential to open worlds to her. VERDICT A delight to read. A familiarity with Pride and Prejudice will enhance enjoyment but is not necessary, and those who haven't read Austen will be sent in search of her work.—Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA

School Library Journal

2016-06-28
Farrant bravely takes on Pride and Prejudice from the point of view of the youngest Bennet sister.This tale offers a peek into the life of 15-year-old Lydia Bennet, the youngest of the infamous Bennet sisters who grace the romantic stage of Pride and Prejudice. Farrant’s Lydia Bennet is a flighty, boisterous tomboy who likes to ride horses and shoot guns by day, easily switching gears to wear her finest dresses at any prestigious ball that she can attend. In the spirit of the time, like every eligible young British teenager of privilege, Lydia lets her eyes roam every public event, hoping to find the perfect suitor, one who will take her on worldly adventures and rescue her from life with her dull family—which, readers will note, is characterized by servants, glamorous balls, and no chores. This story is a whimsical introduction for teen readers who have yet to taste the waters of the world of Mr. Darcy, and yes, readers get a few glimpses of the dark brooding aristocrat because, as with all things Bennet, Darcy is always lurking nearby. Despite the title, the novel offers little in the way of secrets, as this tale is necessarily predictable, and Lydia’s voice and interpolated scenes don’t do enough to give it real originality. Yet at the same time, there is a charming humor that Farrant does manage to capture for readers who want to take another romp in the Bennet household. Readers wanting a real taste of Austen won’t find it, but it’s a pleasant enough sojourn in her world regardless. (Historical fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews