Teens Across the Pond
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 
In my book Across the Pond (Xlibris Corporation; 1st edition, September 25, 2008, ISBN 978-1436371766 ) I cover some of the issues a teen might face if they were, as my hero Fred does in the novel, visit the USA for the first time.An English teenager’s idea of what Americans his own age are like might be tainted by what appears on British television. The bronzed brats with bleach blond hair and shining white teeth they see in programs like Beverly Hills 90210 etc might provide a false impression. And the fact they don’t break out into song and dance at the drop of a hat as in High School Musical might also be a shock.
In the end teenagers are just teenagers.
Handling the money is a little strange; most teenagers have traveled before, to various parts of Europe so driving on the right hand side of the road is not that strange. But turning right at a red stop light? Woo there that is something very different.
The language can also get you into serious trouble, words and phrases that are used in normal everyday English can have a totally different meaning. As Fred find out when he makes a mistake in his journal and states, "that’s okay I have a rubber in my case".
To Fred a rubber is an eraser, but for Americans it means something totally different.
Every day phrases like "didn’t say a dickey bird" used to say "that a person said nothing". Can leave people in the US wondering what on earth they are talking about.
In some ways an English teenager might find some of the American ways slightly prudish. Coming from a country where the number one and two papers have topless models displayed on page three on a daily basis, and where on European beaches topless bathing is almost the standard. The fudging out of certain shots on American TV programs could be hard to comprehend.
In the end though, teenagers will always be teenagers. Despite the language, the armed police, yellow cabs and money being all the same color. They will always get on. Sharing the music, laughter and thirst for adventure the world over, and as Fred found out in "Across the Pond" sharing being in love as well.
Book Summary
Finding himself packed off to friends in the USA, fifteen-year-old English born Fred Squire is not happy. Then he meets Brittany.
Struggling with his feelings for Brit and the language, Fred is further confused when he meets Brit's flirtatious friend, Angel.
Escaping from a confrontation with Steve Harris, the neighborhood bully, Brit tells Fred her dark secret about Harris, and Fred's world is turned upside down.
Life continues to throw Fred a curveball when he catches a baseball worth a small fortune. Further run-ins with Harris, a crazy family BBQ, and a chase through a mall all add to Fred's American adventure.
"Brit and her Brit", know that their young love will be followed by heartache when Fred has to return to England. But not before some final twists in the tale.
With believable characters, exciting events, humor, first love, education and a little sport thrown in for good measure. Across the Pond is read and enjoyed by people of all ages from the young to the young at heart.
About the Author
Born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Barry, also known as "Storyheart", left his beloved England in 2000, moving to the USA to be with the woman he'd met and fallen in love with on the Internet.
Better known for his short romance stories on the net and in his book "Stories from the Heart", Barry is popular for narrating his stories on local TV or as a guest on other media stations, where his whit, oratory, and old-fashioned English charm make him a popular interviewee.
Across the Pond may be purchased at local or online bookstores. For more information about the author and book visit: http://www.across-t-pond.com.
Reader Comments (23)
thank you for a good read
[...] novel, Across the Pond (Xlibris), will be stopping off at Cafe of Dreams, The Tony Kay Show, and Blogging Authors! With believable characters, exciting events, humor, first love, education and a little sport [...]
It's interesting to see the differences in culture, isn't it? You need to listen to Barry in one of his online radio show interviews. His accent is to die for. Thanks for hosting Barry today, Irene, and I'll be getting him to come over and say howdie.
Great post and review! I also reviewed this and thought it was very well written and just tons of fun! I agree with you - teens are teens, no matter where they live or are from!
Excellent post and review! I read this also and loved it - I thought it was very well written and tons of fun! I agree with you, teens are teens no matter where they live or are from!
I just read this book recently and enjoyed it. Watching Fred and Brit's relationship unfolded is very nice. Barry captures the insecurity of that time very well and adds in the cultural differences to make it even more interesting.
I laughed through many of their adventures.
My review will be up at The Book Connection on the 10th.
I can't imagine falling for someone from another country. It was hard enough when my husband and I were dating when we lived 40 miles away from each other.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
I don't know if this will post twice because I received an error the first time.
I just finished reading this book and really enjoyed it. Barry captures the insecurity of those years well and the addition of the cultural differences make it even better.
I laughed through many moments in this book.
My review will appear at The Book Connection on the 10th.
Cheryl
I think the oddest language difference is "knocked up" which her in America means pregnant and in England someone might say, "I'll knock you up," meaning knocking on the door, or come calling.
The way times are, I'd never allow a teenager to go to another country--see Taken--all too true.
Our reviewer, on Reader Views Kids, love the book and she recommends it.
Hi Barry! Hope you are having a great day ;)
Across the pond sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing!
I saw this somewhere else on the web and thought it sounded like a great read. Will definitely have to add this to my pile.
This sounds like a great read! Definitely adding to my pile!
This sounds like a fun book...and one that would be excellent at teaching teens a little about another country
It's so neat to hear how teens from "across the pond" compare to teens in the U.S. You ought to hear one of Barry's interviews at Blog Talk Radio. He has an accent to die for! Thank you for hosting Barry, Irene, and let me see if I can't get him over here.
This sounds like a really interesting book -I love the discussion about the different meanings between America and England!
Hi, Barry! The book sounds very good - many sales and much success to you!!! Very nice post, too... fun to read.
Denysé
Hi, Barry!! Nice to see you hear. Congrats on the book, and many sales to you!! Sounds like a really good one, and the post is great, fun and friendly.
Good luck with the tour!
Best wishes,
Denyse
Thank you all very much for your comments. It's funny to hear people say about meeting people from so far away. I met my now wife online and we were at the time 3000 miles a part from each other. I have had a lot of feed back about the book and the language, humor etc. Some of the younger readers who have got their own blogs are having contest re the language. For instance if in England you got offered "Toad in the hole, with bubble and squeak followed by spotted dick" what would you be eating?
The language is merging as the world gets smaller spellings are becoming standard you even changed our once marathon bars to be the same name as Snickers over here.
Thank you all once again, I'm having a great time doing the tour, and have for those who like the accent another radio show on Feb 7th and a radio book reading on Feb 13th
Gosh I thought I was doing good knowing that bonnet was a hood on a car, but this is beyond me. ha ha Great job Barry.
Jo Ann Hernandez
http://bronzeword.wordpress.com
xmtcbnpc...
xmtcbnpc...
Yeah, i like your work, and the content that you wrote. If you want to trade a link, drop me a mail!
Dear friend, i find your post, very intresting. I run a website related to porn industries, and such a information are very valuable.