I Conquer Britain

by dyan-sheldon

16-year-old Cherokee Salamanca is thrilled with the idea of visiting London. She's fed up with Brooklyn. Brooklyn is about as romantic and as interesting as a hot dog; London is old and cultured and very close to Europe. But when she swaps lives with British teenager Sophie Pitt-Turnbull, she gets more than she bargained for.

Genres: Young Adult, London, Fiction

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Conquer Britain is the companion book to Sophie Pitt-Turnbull Discovers America, and has much the same to offer readers. It's funny, lighthearted and a quick read, but light on the characterization and plot development. Cherokee is definitely a more entertaining character than Sophie was, although the supporting characters remained disappointingly flat. Dyan Sheldon has the unfortunate habit of dropping hints about how fascinating a character is, and then never mentioning it again. For instance, in I Conquer Britain Cherokee discovers that Nana Bea had a wild youth in which she was arrested, but the reader never learns why, or is even given a clue. Nevertheless, the brief descriptions of London were fun for me (since I absolutely adore London), but I wouldn't give this my highest recommendation.

[Liralen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Breaking News: Queen Elizabeth Dethroned; Immaturity Reigns

I cannot be bothered to get up in arms about either this book or Sophie Pitt-Turnbull Discovers America (or, for that matter, to review either of them properly), but I do find it quite curious that, though the author has lived in both the States and England, she chose to default to total stereotypes for so many of the characters—you have the uptight English and the rowdy Americans. (Is it worth noting that the American/Canadian part of my family is far more uptight than the Scottish/English part of my family?) I suppose one of the goals was to avoid a 'typical' travel story, but piling on the cultural stereotypes doesn't seem like the best way to do that.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, a pretty funny book. Its more than just the culture clash - the goth Brooklyn girl in ordinary middle-class England. It makes fun of all kinds of things, especially people in general. Cherokee's character is a little vague. Strangely, even though told in first person, it is hard to get a real feel for her. The reader gets her opinion on everything, but not as much on her. And the analogies - they're funny, really funny, but they just go on and on, one would have to be a scholar to get them all. And while Cherokee makes a number of very literate and college level analogies, there are very obvious things she supposedly doesn't know (big contradictions made to fit the book not the character). Overall, fun to read.

[Wisterious Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars because I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny in parts. I'm married to a Brit so I could understand some of the jokes better than most. The biggest disappointment for me was the weak ending. It almost seemed that she intended it to be that way in case she wants to write a sequel. I don't think I will read the companion novel though. I can't imagine that the English gal is half as funny. I might miss most of the jokes because I've never lived in New York.

I'll read the reviews of her other books to see if people thought they were good before I pick one up at the library.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Cherokee Salamanca arrives in London, having switched places with Sophie Pitt-Turnbull who's staying at her house in Brooklyn, she's surprised that it looks so much like New Jersey. And she's apalled by the Pepso Bismal color of Sophie's room. But she's up for adventure and winds up having a great time and changing the Pitt-Turnbull family more than a little. A funny book that's a fast read.

[Stephanie Duffield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book at a dollar store because I liked the cover and I'm obsessed with anything British. It was a cute story about a girl going abroad for the first time. I liked hearing about England; the places and events but it was a really safe, almost boring account of one girl's trip there. I probably wouldn't recommend it for anything other than a quick fix. Maybe if you're between books or can only spare a dollar.

[Mindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts out assuming you are an American reader with little understanding of British English. So for readers who do understand the early jokes fall a bit flat. The fact the white main character was called Cherokee also bothered me. It was a bit clueless in that respect. I also had to suspend disbelief that a parent who barely makes ends meet could suddenly afford to send a teenager to Britain for the school holidays. Apart from that there were some enjoyable bits.

[Suzanneli4653 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very amusing,and fun to read about, but I thought it was pointless. It was just about a teenage girl going to London for the summer. It had no major exciting plot and suspension to make me want to keep reading it. The book wasn't bad though. Reading about her adventures was fun and I enjoyed it even though it wasn't the best book that I read.

[rosyaffair · Rating 1 out of 5]

All I need to say is, she does not conquer Britain at all. I was almost half way through the novel, and nothing seemed appealing. The main character and the others around her, never created a scenario of some sort. It was boring. Never said that to a book before, but its true. Sorry for the ones you liked it :)

[Agatha Donkar Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but unmemorable.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two high school girls, one from London and one from Brooklyn, switch lives for the summer. It's quick and amusing. Its companion is Sophie Pitt-Turnbull Discovers America.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming chick lit novel about a teenage girl who changes places with a teen from Britain and spends the summer with the British family. Light and amusing.

[Erin Yahtzee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't feel any of the characters. This bored me stiff.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp. This was an ARC from BEA last year. Nothing deep but an enjoyable escape.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

They went to Camden! xD This book was loads of fun, a lovely culture-clash adventure.

[Simona-- I'm kind of intense · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it very humorous and witty, especially the end w/ Xar!
I kinda wish they said more about Bachman and Cherry, more about their relationship, at the end.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun look at London through an American teen's eyes.

[Sydney-Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun short read, plus it was set in England, and I'm a sucker for stories that take place in the UK.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, love every word.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't care how Goth Girlboss you are I don't take tea slander.

[Ay Oh Be · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was a cute and funny little read.