It’s hard not to think it’s all some kind of elaborate joke, a spoof of those who think that young people genuinely respond to, and use, try-hard yoof-speak.  Y’know, like what Tom Watson has done to great effect here and Ali G did, ten years ago.

Sadly, it seems that Oi, Mate, Gimme Some More! has been put together with the best of intentions, but very, very cringey results.   It’s an attempt to make Dickens more accessible to young people and, with titles like ‘Da Tale of Two Turfs’, just seems woefully patronising.

I hope I’m wrong but, as far as I can see, the main market for this will be adults wanting a cheap laugh at the expense of how they think modern teenagers communicate. And dats da troof, ma homiez.

From digital spy:  C4 to launch Facebook reading campaign

Channel 4 Education has confirmed plans to launch a Facebook application aimed at getting more teenagers reading books and discussing them.

Titled Bookstash, the application will enable users to flag up the covers of their favourite novels, while also passing on recommendations and learning about new releases. It will launch on March 15.

Will be following this with interest – seems like the latest in a long line of new media approaches to literacy and teens, though I think it’s one of the first to be coming from a broadcaster, rather than publisher.  I wonder how much it will differ from existing similar sounding apps and services that aren’t as TEEN targetted (e.g. weRead and GoodReads).

See also:

1. The very well established Spinebreakers from Penguin (uses a teen editorial team, with social networking, promotion of new books, competitions, interviews with authors, and more)
2. The slightly newer InkPop from HarperCollins (for teens, and also for teen writers – basically a virtual slush pile meets social network)

If anyone has any more information about Bookstash, please do drop us a line.