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Abbie's Rival
Abbie Palmer is ecstatic when she receives an e-mail from her beautiful French 'e-mate' Colette telling her she wants to visit in the summer holidays. Then Abbie realises Colette will find out she lied about her background, so she tries to put her off with a message saying she is going away for the summer. Unfortunately Colette doesn't get Abbie's message. She turns up unexpectedly and that's when Abbie's problems start. First of all Colette turns out to be an absolute stunner. She looks more like eighteen than sixteen and Abbie feels young and fat in comparison. Secondly Abbie has fallen in love with the gorgeous Richard Farnham, a young teaching student who is going to do his placement at Abbie's school, but Richard falls for Colette instead, even though Colette claims to be in love with someone else. Abbie is heartbroken, but tries not to let them know how she feels. Can she ever make Richard notice her, or will he be always out of reach?
140 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Tracey Morait
7 books24 followersI was born and brought up in Liverpool, England, but after graduating as a librarian at Liverpool Polytechnic in 1990, I moved to Bristol to live and work. There I met my husband, Keith Mitchell. I write and self-publish for children and young adults. Keith designs my book covers and K&T Mitchell is our own small press.
My seventh title Tempting Fake is intended for the young adult audience. Cherry and Adam meet online and things take a sinister turn. The story is based on a real-life experience I had before the pandemic. It is a warning against developing online relationships and I wrote it as therapy. It contains some sensitive scenes not everyone will feel comfortable with.
My sixth book is Episode, which, like Epiworld, follows the theme of epilepsy and time travel. Ali is catapulted back in time to the days preceding the Trojan War. Although it is not a direct sequel to Epiworld, I reintroduced the character of Travis to act as Ali's mentor.
Why did I choose children and young adult writing? I decided I wanted to write for children at the age of 10 after reading First Term at Malory Towers.
In 2007 I self-published my first book for children, Goalden Girl about the adventures of promising young footballer, Gemma, which was inspired by my love for football (I'm a big Liverpool FC supporter!) It was well received with good reviews. This was followed shortly after by another children's book in 2008, Abbie's Rival.
In 2014 I published a sequel to Goalden Girl, Goalden Sky continuing Gemma's story, but I decided to put the sequel into the young adult category because the characters are older. I have written two other young adult books, Epiworld, a fantasy/science fiction story inspired by my own personal experience with epilepsy, and Big Brother, a more hard-hitting contemporary young adult story, again with a science fiction/horror theme, about a young lad who gets help from an unusual source to fight the bullies who have been tormenting him mercilessly.
I have been fortunate to receive 3-5 star reviews for my work (except once when someone bought the wrong title), even though I accept that my books might not be everyone's cup of tea. You can read the reviews on my website:
Tempting Fake
Episode
Goalden Sky
Big Brother
Epiworld
Abbie's Rival
Goalden Girl
Now and then, I also add a post to my blog.
My books are available in paperback and Kindle and I am planning an eighth.
My seventh title Tempting Fake is intended for the young adult audience. Cherry and Adam meet online and things take a sinister turn. The story is based on a real-life experience I had before the pandemic. It is a warning against developing online relationships and I wrote it as therapy. It contains some sensitive scenes not everyone will feel comfortable with.
My sixth book is Episode, which, like Epiworld, follows the theme of epilepsy and time travel. Ali is catapulted back in time to the days preceding the Trojan War. Although it is not a direct sequel to Epiworld, I reintroduced the character of Travis to act as Ali's mentor.
Why did I choose children and young adult writing? I decided I wanted to write for children at the age of 10 after reading First Term at Malory Towers.
In 2007 I self-published my first book for children, Goalden Girl about the adventures of promising young footballer, Gemma, which was inspired by my love for football (I'm a big Liverpool FC supporter!) It was well received with good reviews. This was followed shortly after by another children's book in 2008, Abbie's Rival.
In 2014 I published a sequel to Goalden Girl, Goalden Sky continuing Gemma's story, but I decided to put the sequel into the young adult category because the characters are older. I have written two other young adult books, Epiworld, a fantasy/science fiction story inspired by my own personal experience with epilepsy, and Big Brother, a more hard-hitting contemporary young adult story, again with a science fiction/horror theme, about a young lad who gets help from an unusual source to fight the bullies who have been tormenting him mercilessly.
I have been fortunate to receive 3-5 star reviews for my work (except once when someone bought the wrong title), even though I accept that my books might not be everyone's cup of tea. You can read the reviews on my website:
Tempting Fake
Episode
Goalden Sky
Big Brother
Epiworld
Abbie's Rival
Goalden Girl
Now and then, I also add a post to my blog.
My books are available in paperback and Kindle and I am planning an eighth.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 25, 2019
Abbie’s Rival is a fast moving interesting story about teenagers living in Liverpool, England. Abby Palmer has three sisters, one a quarrelsome step-sister named Tanya, and two brothers. The youngest brother and youngest sister are twins. Abbie found, during a school project, a pen friend in France, Colette Saunier, with whom she texts frequently, although secretly because her parents frown on chat room relationships.
The story begins with Abbie realizing that Colette plans to visit her in Liverpool after the school year and stay with her family in the Palmer’s home. The first complication arises when Abbie remembers that she was not entirely honest with Colette, texting Colette that she is an only child and that her parents are well to do, having a large house, a swimming pool, and a pony.
Abbie discusses her dilemma with her best friend Shireen Shah. Abbie decides to text Colette that she and her parents will be on a Mediterranean cruise all summer. With that problem seemingly solved, Abbie becomes enamored with an “older man,” twenty-year-old Richard Farnham, six years her senior, who crashed his bicycle into Abbie when she absently mindedly walked into his path. Instantly attracted to Richard, Abbie and Shireen argue about the wisdom of having a crush on an older man. Richard turns out to be the son of Abbie’s French teacher, Mrs. Farnham (“Frog Face”), and Richard will be the new student-teacher next term, helping his mother teach French.
The story takes a twist when Colette shows up unannounced at the Palmer home. She wanted to surprise Abbie. More surprises develop later when Colette’s real reason for her visit comes to light. Colette is a stunningly beautiful sixteen-year-old blond who could easily pass for eighteen. She is introduced to Richard and both are attracted to each other, causing Abbie no little anxiety. Abbie’s jealousy becomes hard to control, plus her differences with her step-sister Tanya worsen as Tanya begins to show hostility toward Colette. Fights ensue, and the Palmers ask Colette to leave.
The story continues in this direction, developing the sibling rivalry in the Palmer family and the girl’s interest in Richard. Tracey Morait’s dialog is good, and the story moves rapidly with several surprising new developments. Things seemingly work out in the end, but new situations arise leaving the reader to wonder if this is the whole story or is there more to come.
This is Tracey Morait’s third novel. She lives in the United Kingdom; and her frequent use of British slang, all of it new to an American’s eye, but easily understood in the context of the story, adds charm to her writing. Her book is published by K&T Mitchell in the UK and distributed through Lulu.com.
The story begins with Abbie realizing that Colette plans to visit her in Liverpool after the school year and stay with her family in the Palmer’s home. The first complication arises when Abbie remembers that she was not entirely honest with Colette, texting Colette that she is an only child and that her parents are well to do, having a large house, a swimming pool, and a pony.
Abbie discusses her dilemma with her best friend Shireen Shah. Abbie decides to text Colette that she and her parents will be on a Mediterranean cruise all summer. With that problem seemingly solved, Abbie becomes enamored with an “older man,” twenty-year-old Richard Farnham, six years her senior, who crashed his bicycle into Abbie when she absently mindedly walked into his path. Instantly attracted to Richard, Abbie and Shireen argue about the wisdom of having a crush on an older man. Richard turns out to be the son of Abbie’s French teacher, Mrs. Farnham (“Frog Face”), and Richard will be the new student-teacher next term, helping his mother teach French.
The story takes a twist when Colette shows up unannounced at the Palmer home. She wanted to surprise Abbie. More surprises develop later when Colette’s real reason for her visit comes to light. Colette is a stunningly beautiful sixteen-year-old blond who could easily pass for eighteen. She is introduced to Richard and both are attracted to each other, causing Abbie no little anxiety. Abbie’s jealousy becomes hard to control, plus her differences with her step-sister Tanya worsen as Tanya begins to show hostility toward Colette. Fights ensue, and the Palmers ask Colette to leave.
The story continues in this direction, developing the sibling rivalry in the Palmer family and the girl’s interest in Richard. Tracey Morait’s dialog is good, and the story moves rapidly with several surprising new developments. Things seemingly work out in the end, but new situations arise leaving the reader to wonder if this is the whole story or is there more to come.
This is Tracey Morait’s third novel. She lives in the United Kingdom; and her frequent use of British slang, all of it new to an American’s eye, but easily understood in the context of the story, adds charm to her writing. Her book is published by K&T Mitchell in the UK and distributed through Lulu.com.
December 2, 2020
Abbie Palmer is infatuated with Richard, the older teacher-in-training who certainly isn’t going to look twice at a fourteen year old, though Abbie believes otherwise. Like all teenage girls, her best friend, Shireen, is at times the voice of reason and at times Abbie’s partner in crime. When Colette, Abbie’s sophisticated French pen pal arrives unexpectedly and manages to attract Richard’s attention, there’s bound to be drama. Throw in a nasty step-sister, Abbie’s shrewish French teacher (also Richard’s mother) and some parents trying to keep the peace and enforce rules and you’ve got a novel that most, if not all, teenage girls can relate to.
It’s been a long time since I was a teenager but “Abbie’s Rival” has the amazing power to transport me back in time, back to when every situation seemed like it was SO DIRE, every encounter with a boy was ruthlessly analyzed and endless schemes were hatched between best friends. This is a book that will make you FEEL. If you’re like me, you’ll relive every awkward, love-sick, embarrassing, dramatic moment that you endured 20+ years ago and you’ll want to go back..just for a moment or two.
It’s been a long time since I was a teenager but “Abbie’s Rival” has the amazing power to transport me back in time, back to when every situation seemed like it was SO DIRE, every encounter with a boy was ruthlessly analyzed and endless schemes were hatched between best friends. This is a book that will make you FEEL. If you’re like me, you’ll relive every awkward, love-sick, embarrassing, dramatic moment that you endured 20+ years ago and you’ll want to go back..just for a moment or two.
December 4, 2021
Definitely one for its target audience
Tracey Morait’s 2008 teen novel ‘Abbie’s Rival’ reminds the reader that the world has changed significantly in the past decade. Now it’s impossible to imagine a fifteen-year-old girl sneaking around her school to send an email to a pen pal or turn off her mobile phone because she doesn’t want to be called. But this doesn’t stop the book from being charming in its own slightly outmoded way.
While Abbie Palmer is exchanging emails with Colette, she exaggerates outrageously, never dreaming her friend would one day turn up in Liverpool. When she does – with her handsome brother as chaperone – she is richer, prettier and appears much older than Abbie (not yet fifteen) and her friend, Shireen. To Abbie’s horror, Colette starts dating student French teacher Richard, the subject of Abbie’s as-yet untested teenage desires.
A series of unfortunate situations follow: underage drinking and bad moules marinière; an emergency hospital visit and a chilly ferry on the Mersey; and the disruption of a birthday party when Richard discovers his new girlfriend is not eighteen.
The action is driven mainly by the dialogue, most of which is between Abbie and her best friend. The girls talk about fashion and being overweight, their unmanageable hair and sibling rivalry, and the boys they like and the men they swear they are in love with.
This is a story based on a series of white lies, but unusually it is not about the subsequent consequences. The differences between Abbie and Colette are marked, and of course, the sophisticated mademoiselle is the one that the student-teacher falls for. The rivalry is the key theme, although it is at times lost in the noise.
Fortunately, Colette finally turns up safe and sound in Switzerland and Abbie and Shireen meet a couple of nice boys their own age. Colette is certainly not the sort of girl any parents (especially Mr and Mrs Palmer) would want their daughter to ‘hang out’ with. And this may be the reason ‘Abbie’s Rival’ reads a little uncomfortably because, given the right circumstances, the story could have moved in another direction. Morait is careful to emphasise Colette’s age (sixteen) and Richard’s refusal to consider any relationship with a student at his school.
So with proprietary carefully managed, we have the antics of a couple of girls, one of which has a crush on a teacher, which is undoubtedly a story played out in schools across the nation. This is an easy read with likeable characters, but probably one best left to its target audience.
Tracey Morait’s 2008 teen novel ‘Abbie’s Rival’ reminds the reader that the world has changed significantly in the past decade. Now it’s impossible to imagine a fifteen-year-old girl sneaking around her school to send an email to a pen pal or turn off her mobile phone because she doesn’t want to be called. But this doesn’t stop the book from being charming in its own slightly outmoded way.
While Abbie Palmer is exchanging emails with Colette, she exaggerates outrageously, never dreaming her friend would one day turn up in Liverpool. When she does – with her handsome brother as chaperone – she is richer, prettier and appears much older than Abbie (not yet fifteen) and her friend, Shireen. To Abbie’s horror, Colette starts dating student French teacher Richard, the subject of Abbie’s as-yet untested teenage desires.
A series of unfortunate situations follow: underage drinking and bad moules marinière; an emergency hospital visit and a chilly ferry on the Mersey; and the disruption of a birthday party when Richard discovers his new girlfriend is not eighteen.
The action is driven mainly by the dialogue, most of which is between Abbie and her best friend. The girls talk about fashion and being overweight, their unmanageable hair and sibling rivalry, and the boys they like and the men they swear they are in love with.
This is a story based on a series of white lies, but unusually it is not about the subsequent consequences. The differences between Abbie and Colette are marked, and of course, the sophisticated mademoiselle is the one that the student-teacher falls for. The rivalry is the key theme, although it is at times lost in the noise.
Fortunately, Colette finally turns up safe and sound in Switzerland and Abbie and Shireen meet a couple of nice boys their own age. Colette is certainly not the sort of girl any parents (especially Mr and Mrs Palmer) would want their daughter to ‘hang out’ with. And this may be the reason ‘Abbie’s Rival’ reads a little uncomfortably because, given the right circumstances, the story could have moved in another direction. Morait is careful to emphasise Colette’s age (sixteen) and Richard’s refusal to consider any relationship with a student at his school.
So with proprietary carefully managed, we have the antics of a couple of girls, one of which has a crush on a teacher, which is undoubtedly a story played out in schools across the nation. This is an easy read with likeable characters, but probably one best left to its target audience.
January 22, 2023
Expect much teenage angst from this piece of young adult fiction which concerns a group of teenagers in Liverpool who’ll always walk alone, if they don’t clean up their bad attitudes, and fast.
Abbie has a pen-friend in Colette, although their correspondence is carried out in secret at Abbie’s end, due to parental computer controls at home and ‘no personal business’ at school. Additionally, Abbie’s been somewhat more than economical with the truth, pretending to be a rich only-child, to mirror Colette’s circumstances—but that’s okay, as it happens, because when the rich French girl turns up unexpectedly, with a good-looking brother in tow, it’s clear that she’s been somewhat less than truthful on the sibling side of things. Worse, she’s slim, elegant and overall far better-looking that Abbie, who’s recently developed a crush on dishy Richard, son of her teacher—and at this point I thought I had an idea where this was going.
Was I correct though? Author Tracey Morait throws a good few twists into the mix, some of which I saw coming, others I did not. I couldn’t take to the characters—apart from Shireen, who’s trying to get on with her studies and revision for her exams—but as a retired teacher who’s had to deal with kids like this at the sharp end, that was always going to be the case.
A realistic examination of the behaviour of teenagers, some of whose illusions are shattered and who learn a bit about growing up—the hard way.
Abbie has a pen-friend in Colette, although their correspondence is carried out in secret at Abbie’s end, due to parental computer controls at home and ‘no personal business’ at school. Additionally, Abbie’s been somewhat more than economical with the truth, pretending to be a rich only-child, to mirror Colette’s circumstances—but that’s okay, as it happens, because when the rich French girl turns up unexpectedly, with a good-looking brother in tow, it’s clear that she’s been somewhat less than truthful on the sibling side of things. Worse, she’s slim, elegant and overall far better-looking that Abbie, who’s recently developed a crush on dishy Richard, son of her teacher—and at this point I thought I had an idea where this was going.
Was I correct though? Author Tracey Morait throws a good few twists into the mix, some of which I saw coming, others I did not. I couldn’t take to the characters—apart from Shireen, who’s trying to get on with her studies and revision for her exams—but as a retired teacher who’s had to deal with kids like this at the sharp end, that was always going to be the case.
A realistic examination of the behaviour of teenagers, some of whose illusions are shattered and who learn a bit about growing up—the hard way.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews