Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh [Hardcover]

M. E. Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2005

What would you do if you were dumped 'cause you had no bish bash bosh (a.k.a. self-confidence and sex appeal)?

Change your image, of course.

You could opt for a new French coif, even if overpriced and results resemble a coconut.

Or try a new diet. Good-bye sticky buns, hello fresh fruit.

You could join the rugby team for requisite male bonding.

Or try to get the support of parents, who suffer from PPFS -- Premature Parental Fatigue Syndrome -- and are otherwise indifferent to nutritional and style needs.

Perhaps this improved self will land you a new love interest. Earn you a spot on the A-list. Thwart your embarrassing best friend. Or help you get even with your ex. It just might work. . . .

Meet the new "It Guy" in this witty and hilarious account of one teen's search for popularity and self-confidence.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–Following the trend of humorous self-confessional journalesque fiction à la Bridget Jones and Georgia Nicholson, Allen adds a tepid romp with a male protagonist to the collection. Freshly dumped by his girlfriend, who urges him to get some "bish bash bosh" (self-confidence and sex appeal), the teen heads first to a trendy hair salon. When Baz's scissors fail to deliver the goods, he sets off down other avenues to obtain his elusive but oh-so-important goal. His friends and parents are no help in this quest and seem to thwart him at every turn–from displaying indifference to embarrassing the poor lad. Filled with amusing setups for scenes, this British import never quite reaches the humor level of others in this genre. Though the male voice does add a different twist, the characters do not have the bish bash bosh needed to send the narrative to the laugh-out-loud funny level it seeks. Although some moments stand out–the hair salon scene, the A-list crowd's party–the protagonist simply lacks the appeal and personality to make him an instant winner. A glossary assists readers with the British slang and terminology.–Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Dumped by his girlfriend, who is seeking someone with more "bish-bash-bosh" (self-confidence and swagger), the unnamed, 14-year-old narrator of this humorous, sensitive novel, written by a mother-son team and first published in the U.K. in 2003, decides to enhance his BBB (and, hopefully, attract some girls). Unfortunately, a pricey new haircut doesn't work; nor does trying athletics, which earns Dad's approval but leaves the kid with a broken collarbone. However, while things don't always go as hoped, the boy's endeavors have some unexpected, positive results; he learns that it's what's inside, not what's in style, that matters. The narrator's lack of a name is occasionally distracting, but the witty, personable voice makes for entertaining reading, and the appealing protagonist and familiar teen issues will grab readers--especially girls, who may enjoy the guy's perspective on living up to ideals and longing to fit in. A glossary of British terms concludes. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperTempest; 1st edition (January 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060731982
• ISBN-13: 978-0060731984
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,582,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Brittany's Review, October 25, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh (Hardcover)

This kid he has a girlfriend and one day she calles him and breaks up with him and he is crushed. He goes and tries to change his image to get her back and she doesnt even notice. He even goes and gets his hair cut, she notices and doesnt even like it she thinks he is weird! She says that he isnt what shes looking for, she wants tough, mean guys. So he decides to go and join the lacross team! He works at it and he makes it. On the first game he goes and tries to get her to notice him and she does. The way that she notices him is when he goes in for the goal and he makes it but he gets tackled! And he breaks his arm, and everyone feels really sorry for him! So now he can't play on the team because his arm is broke. HE tries so hard to get her back but she doesnt notice him. The book was kind of boring and slow it, took me a week to get it done.

4.0 out of 5 stars codys reveiw, February 9, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh (Hardcover)

He has broke up with his girl freind, well actully she breaks up with him. He thinks he needs to work on something to attract girlsto him. He first cuts his hair at an exspensive sallon. His mom doesent like how much it cost but she understands that he wants to fit in. When he first gets the hair cut his best freind laughs in his face. Then they go to a party with a bunch of girls. So the party gets old after a while and they leave bord. Then he works on eating right to change his body shape. Then he also joins a rugby team to impress his parents and freinds. He ends up breaking some bones. He then ebaresses his freind in order to try to be cool. Then rick and him become best buds again.

5.0 out of 5 stars Top marks!, January 25, 2005

By 

A Parent (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh (Hardcover)

This is a terrific novel, one can really relate to the poor guy's situation. The language is appealing to teens (I assume!! I am decades past it but have teen kids who I have given this to). Look forward to the next novel from this author.