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A Greyhound Of A Girl | Roddy Doyle
Reviewed by Steph Hickman, age 15
This is a gentle, warming story of love across 4 generations of a family. Mary is 12 and lives with her parents and brothers. She and her mother visit her dying grandmother in hospital, her grandmother is very ill. Also Mary’s best friend has moved to another part of Dublin, so Mary is miserable. Mary, one day, meets a lady called Tansey, who appears young, but seems very old. This lady turns out to be her great-grandmother! The four women get together and have an adventure as a family before going on their own individual journeys. Written in a gently humorous and simple way this story is both amusing and thought-proving, with echoes across the generations.
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Runelight | Joanna Harris
Reviewed by Eve Foster, age 17
Runelight is the second in a series of books, the first of which I haven’t read. Although Harris included a helpful summary of the first book, Runemarks, at the beginning, as the series is of the high-fantasy genre, I would recommend reading Runemarks before Runelight. The series is based on the Nordic gods, and Runelights picks up three years after Ragnarok, or the end of the worlds, and the second end of the worlds is rapidly predicted. The story follows three main characters, amongst others, who are Maggie Rede, a girl living at World’s End, searching for order after the chaos of the end of the worlds, Maddy Smith, daughter of Thor, and the most powerful of the remaining gods who have had their runemarks – their source of power – reversed, and are taking other forms, from people to pigs. There is also Loki, god of treachery who is almost constantly considering abandoning everyone to save himself.
Harris cleverly creates flawed characters that make mistakes and consider doing the ‘wrong’ thing, but are still likable, something not often found in books. Although the book has an epic storyline – the end of the worlds – it’s also humorous, and it is satisfying to see the stories of many characters tie together. As a person who has never read many epic fantasy books, I would strongly recommend Runelight, an example of great storytelling often not seen in young adult books today.
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Paper Towns | John Green
Reviewed by Simon Marshall, Age 15
Margo Roth Spiegelman is a mystery. In truth, she remains a mystery even after you’ve finished pouring countless hours into avidly seeking for slight clues in Paper Towns, that may reveal something about her. But, she is also fantastic. Quentin Jacobsen, is her neighbour, and has been quietly fascinated by her his entire life. And that’s how he thinks it’ll continue, him silently observing her magnificence…. until she climbs through his bedroom window in the dark, and invites him to join her for one brilliant night of revenge.
From this moment on, you’re hooked to their story, smiling to yourself at Margo’s shocking schemes and pondering her worldweary sentiments, and when morning breaks, and you realise Margo’s vanished, you’re as desperate as Quentin is to discover who Margo Roth Spiegelman really is, and where she’s disappeared too.
This book, is pure gold. Appropriate to both genders, and enjoyable to all tastes of reading, Paper Towns is a masterpiece.
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Milicent’s Book | Charlotte Moore
Reviewed by Steph Hickman, Age 15
Milicent Ludlow’s life changes dramatically in 1883, when her father passes away. She’s left to the care of her siblings and her well-off family. This is a journal for her future self and Milicent writes about the world around her and about what is presently going on in her life. As she comes from a wealthy family with good connections she knows many famous people, for example Florence Nightingale. Unfortunately, being rich doesn’t protect Milicent and her family from misfortunes or illness.
For me, the best part is that Milicent was actually a real person and Charlotte Moore based this novel on her teenage diaries; all the events really happened.
Although this story was initially hard to get into I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting seeing into the life of someone my age who grew up in a different time. Charlotte Moore captures perfectly the thoughts and feelings of Milicent.
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Boys Don’t Cry | Malorie Blackman
Reviewed by Steph Hickman, Age 15
Seventeen year old Dante is waiting for his A level results, but it’s not the postman he answers the door to. His ex-girlfriend is at the door…with a baby…his baby…Then she vanishes leaving Dante with the baby, Emma. Dante’s dreams of university are shattered as he has to look after her full time, with the support of his brother Adam and his father. However, there is more trouble brewing. Dante’s friends make homophobic remarks about Adam and a social worker turns up on his doorstep.
The story jumps from Dante’s perspective to Adam’s, but it mainly focusses on Dante.
This is a gripping and thought-provoking tale of fatherhood, friendship and how homophobia affects people. It’s fantastically written and you won’t be able to put it down. In some parts I was close to tears.
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Hunting Lila | Sarah Alderson
Reviewed by Megan Godber, age 14
When a mugging in the streets of South London reveals her unique power of moving things without touching them (telekinesis), 17 year old Lila is forced to run to the two people she trusts most in the world, her brother Jack and his best friend Alex. Jumping a plane to California sees her arrival at her brother’s house, where she meets them both for the first time in three years.
For as long as she can remember Lila has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, and the coming events make her battle against her attraction much more difficult. She discovers that Jack and Alex both work for the ‘Unit’, an army base down the road, where they are hunting her mother’s murderers of years before. And that they’ve also found them.
But all is not as simple as it seems, so when Lila discovers that there are others that have similar abilities to hers out there, she must decide again who she can trust and who she can’t.
This book is written realistically, despite the events that happen throughout, and Lila is someone you can relate to well. Her struggles become your struggles and you can relate to her situation completely, both with Alex and her brother, she’s just a really believable character. Something is happening almost every second. I found it hard to put down, and if you like good books, then this is for you!
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The Gift | Alison Croggon
Reviewed by Ellie Birch
Maerad has been a slave for as long as she can remember, caught high in the mountains, ensnared by the tyrant named Thane Gilman, she has known nothing else. But Maerad unbeknown to her has always possessed a powerful gift, and it is only when the Bard Cadvan discovers her that it is revealed. Cadvan realising Maerad’s true potential and what this could mean to the darkening world of Edil-Amarandh, fights the will of man and elemental forces to help her escape the clutches of the Thane. Together, they journey through strange mountains, mysterious forests and barren wastelands, continuously battling the darkness that seems to slowly crawl its way through the Light.
Along the way, Maerad’s destiny is revealed, as she is the key to defeating the Nameless One, a terrifying, corrupt being, once a bard who rejected his True name, thus rejecting death. There is some hope however, as Maerad discovers her heritage, herself and most importantly the power of love and friendship.
The Gift is the first instalment of the Books of Pellinor and Croggon weaves an empowering tale. Throughout, there is a sense of reality that flows throughout as Maerad experiences moments that are relatable to both genders and all ages alike. The underlying sinister feel to the book juxtaposed with the warmth and hope of the Bards of the Light is a powerful combination and leaves the reader having felt every inch of the spectrum of emotion. This beautifully written tale is a definite high quality read and recommended to all.
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Elsewhere | Gabrielle Zevin
Reviewed by Lauren Townsend, age 15
“Sorry, but nothing of much importance ever happened to me…I’m just a girl who forgot to look both ways before she crossed the street”.
Elsewhere. A place not quite like any other; it is a place for those who have passed on from Earth, to begin a journey backwards towards rebirth in a new life. It is a heaven – an island where life’s only purpose is to grow younger and be whoever you want to be.
‘Elsewhere’ is the story of Liz Hall, a seemingly normal fifteen year old who wakes one morning to find herself on a boat, heading towards only one destination; with a one-way ticket. Bewildered, Liz is greeted by her long-dead grandmother when her boat arrives, and it takes her some time to realise that she had been killed in a sudden hit-and-run accident only a few days before.
‘Elsewhere’ follows Liz, in her tragic tale of growing up, love, loss and coping without everything she’s used to taking for granted.
A must-read for anyone over the age of twelve, ‘Elsewhere’ is heartbreakingly beautiful with its intricate twists, built around the most moving and inspirational characters and is guaranteed to bring a tear to the reader’s eye.
Elsewhere is a novel of sadness, happiness, love and redemption and will undoubtedly leave you with crossed fingers; wishing that Zevin’s ideas about the afterlife are truly a reality.
One of the most brilliant books written for teenagers, Elsewhere is sure to stamp it’s mark on your life and undeniably tug at your heartstrings – there simply aren’t enough words to praise this novel with justice.
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Bloodchild | Tim Bowler
Reviewed by Jessica Walsh, aged 15
‘Bloodchild’ by Tim Bowler centres around young Will, left with nothing but a few broken images – screaming red faces, a girl with gaping blue eyes – for a memory after recovering from an accident, or, to be more precise: attack.
Will returns to his home in Havenmouth, but cannot shake the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong. Spurned by the community, and shaken with numerous dynamic visions, Will is becoming increasingly agitated and is in ever more danger, when he meets a small boy, Muck, and is struck by the boy’s blue eyes, which bear an uncanny resemblance to those from his visions.
Will must fit together the pieces of the puzzle and reach the bottom of the swamp that engulfs Havenmouth before he is silenced forever…
‘Bloodchild’ is so different, and so unique, that it really is unlike anything by any other author, and is a perfect example of the genre that Bowler himself seems to have created. Bowler weaves such vivid imagery into this book, filling it to the brim with mystery and secrets. It was one of those books that, no matter how greedy it felt, I couldn’t help but read it all in one day, and it was so gripping and tense that I felt physically exhausted reading it. The plot is so complex and involving that it swallows you whole, then spits you back out at the end having been taken on a whirlwind of an adventure. Packed with unexpected twists and turns, this novel runs like a labyrinth, and is an absolute must-read for all Bowler fans and newcomers alike!
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Uglies | Scott Westerfield
Reviewed by H. Chalmers, Aged 17
After the legendary Northern Lights trilogy by Philip Pullman, I along with many Fantasy and Sci-Fi fans was left wondering whether another other could compare… thankfully we have not been disappointed.
Scott Westerfeld is an American author whose latest works are without a doubt his best to date, ‘Uglies’ is the first of four novels set in a future where your every move is watched, and where everyone over the age of sixteen is beautiful . Living a life where your only job is to be pretty, party hard and be happy does appear to be perfect… Yet Tally watches her each of her friends turn sixteen, and turn pretty, and it seems their faces are not the only things that change. Tally and her last ‘ugly’ friend, Shay, set out to ask ‘What if?’ and they don’t necessarily like the answer they receive.
The brilliance of the novel is that you won’t be able to help believing this dystopian world could really happen. Totally gripping and “bubbly making” Westerfeld’s pretty society will grip you from page one and you will without a doubt be clamouring to get hold of the second one! It is a refreshingly well written book that will challenge you from start to finish, perhaps even more so than Mr. Pullman…
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The Host | Stephanie Meyer
Reviewed by Rebecca Dillingham, Aged 16
“The Host”, by Stephenie Meyer, who is also author of the Twilight series, takes place in a time on Earth when humanity has succumbed to a species of “souls”, who have invaded and who take over the minds of human hosts, within which they then live.
We follow the story of Wanderer, the “soul” who has been given the body of Melanie Stryder. She knew the challenges of living inside a human: overpowering emotions and fiercely vivid memories. But she is surprised to find that Melanie refuses to fade away and give up her mind to Wanderer. Wanderer is unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, and so, when Melanie fills Wanderer’s mind with thoughts of the man she loves- Jared, a human who lives in hiding- she too begins to love him also. Wanderer and Melanie are forced to become unwilling allies, as neither can gain full control of the other, and so they set off together to find the man they both love. The rest of the story follows their search and the consequences that unfold.
I loved the Twilight series, and, though this book was very different, it was as equally brilliant. I absolutely loved this hugely addictive book, and found it very hard to put down, especially as I read more and more. It was a lengthy 617 pages, but oh, how they flew by! The more I read of it, the more I wanted to read. The book was full of twists, and you never knew what would happen next. I was hooked!
This book, along with the Twilight series, has secured Stephenie Meyer as one of my favourite, if not top favourite, authors. If you love Twilight, you will love this!
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Who’s That Girl? | Alexandra Potter
Reviewed by Rebecca Dillingham, Aged 16
“Who’s That Girl? “, by Alexandra Potter, follows the life of Charlotte Merryweather, a stressed-out 30-something, trying hard to juggle work, friends, family and boyfriend, whilst keeping herself happy; something that, unfortunately, though she strives hard to be, she cannot seem to reach.
Then, one day, she meets her younger, 21-year old self, and, as events spiral out of her control, she finds out some rather surprising consequences.
I loved this book, because it was an easy-to-read, light and bubbly book, full of morals about love, life, happiness and being true to yourself.
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