The amazingly disorganised help dictionary by Georgia Productions
Penguin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780143793250
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Internet. Persistence. Creativity.
Author and YouTube star, 19 yr old Georgia, has amassed half a
million followers from her bedroom in New South Wales. Although we
have seen vlogs and blogs become books before, this book captures
the essence of Georgia's YouTube persona. It is not merely a coffee
table book such as Doug the Pug or the delightful travelogue
of Penguin Bloom, the magpie. The popularity of the cute animal
doesn't apply to this human. Georgia is as entertaining on her
channel as in her writing. Both media give us real insights into the
teenage mind. As a bonus, Georgia is an accomplished comedienne and
cinematographer.
The title is a misnomer - this book is not a dictionary. This
teenager struggles with ADHD (a pneumonic for her book's title)
plus: anxiety, body image, peers, teachers, grooming and other
teenage rites of passage. Georgia doesn't utilise all the letters of
the alphabet - random letters decorate the odd pages to signal each
eclectic chapter. Georgia's thoughts are, on balance, fairly mundane
and naive; but to her credit they are also insightful, funny and
honest. You will be mesmerised by Georgia who definitely has an
attractive visage and personality.
However, a YouTuber is above all things, a marketer, an
entrepreneur. That is the refreshing thing about this book - it is
what it seems. Georgia, in marketing herself, needs to grab hold of
every truism, philosophy or common sense tip that she's ever
recycled in her short life, in order to populate her 'dictionary'.
She is very aware of the cycles of promotion and the certainty that
the book loops attention back to her YouTube channel. She even stars
in her own book trailer.
Forget the adage about self-promotion being no recommendation.
Vlogs are viewed and responded to both visually and verbally, making
for a connection and immediacy hitherto unknown. Georgia knows this
instinctively as a Millennial and gives credit to the vloggers who
inspired her. After nearly 5 years, Georgia has bragging rights as
far as vlogging skills go. One chapter forewarns prospective
copycats by explaining the difference between constructive criticism
and hateful comments. Promotion is the end game in the symbiotic
environment of YouTube. By sheer volume of hits, Georgia's films
resonate with teenagers seeking connection. Honing her craft as both
a producer and consumer of visual texts, her social commentary sheds
light on daily teenage chaos in a way which will uplift both young
and old.
Deborah Robins