HOPSCOTCH & HANDBAGS is a riotous journey through girlhood into womanhood, covering family, friendships and first snogs, whilst not forgetting to take in all the really important stuff - like how how to negotiate the minefield of the female body and why it's never good to weep at work.

Lucy Mangan was educated in Catford and Cambridge. She spent two years training to be a solicitor, then left the law as soon as she qualified. She took a placement with the Guardian in 2003 and hung around until they gave her a job. She has been a columnist and features writer there for the past two years, currently writing for the Guardian Weekend magazine.