Lia's guide to winning the lottery by Keren David

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011. ISBN 9781847801913
(Ages: 14+) When 16 year old Lia wins the lottery all she wants to do is leave school and get her own house as soon as possible but her family have other plans. They practically spend her money for her, but she doesn't want to be mean so she goes along with it. Lia never would have won the lottery if Jack, one of her best friends, hadn't brought her the ticket for her 16th birthday. Jack's mum hates that Lia won and believes that Jack deserves half of the money but Jack just wants a motorbike and when Lia gets him one his mum is furious. She says Lia tried to bribe her son with a death machine. Lia's other best friend Shazia can't let Lia buy anything or pay for anything for her because the money Lia uses is from the lottery and  gambling is against her religion. Then there's Raf. Lia has liked him for ages but he never seemed to like her back then when she wins the lottery he suddenly likes her. Shaz tells Lia he only likes her money but Lia doesn't believe her.
Just after winning Lia's mum kicked her out of the house not knowing about what had just happened. At first Lia didn't want them to find out that she had won the lottery but she told them anyway and her family were all very excited. They had heaps of plans for Lia's money, they would get a new bigger house, go on a holiday, renovate the bakery and Natasha, Lia's younger sister, would get singing lessons. However Lia had different plans and didn't like that they were spending her money.
It was fun watching how Lia coped with having so much money all of a sudden and the little problems that appeared because of it. Also I enjoyed reading this book and although it was a bit slow at times I couldn't put it down.
Tahlia Kennewell (Student)