Finding Audrey is Sophie Kinsella’s (of Shopaholic fame) first foray into the world YA literature. 14 year old Audrey is recovering from an anxiety disorder. Whilst the reader knows that an incident at school sparked Audrey’s illness, crucially the details of the incident aren’t revealed. Rather, the focus is on Audrey, her recovery … and…
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, new for 2015, is the YA novel that EVERYONE will be talking about this year. Beautifully written, and sensitively portrayed Williamson tackles notions of identity and sexuality head on with warmth and humour. Oh, and then there’s that ending too …! Williamson’s debut is a sensitive, warm…
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart was first published in the US back in 2008. I’m delighted that it has been released by Hot Key Books in the UK. (You have read her novel We Were Liars haven’t you?) With 15 year old Frankie facing her first year away from home, this is going…
We Were Liars by E Lockhart is an intriguing, roller coaster of a novel. Aimed at the YA audience, adults are going to be talking about this one for quite sometime to come too. I refuse can’t give away too much detail here, it’s one of those books that should open with little knowledge of its…
Love Letters to the Dead from Ava Dellaira is an absorbing, sink in to kind of novel which captures so much within a short space of time. Laurel is set an innocuous sounding assignment for her English homework – write a letter to a dead person. She doesn’t hand it in. Instead Laurel spends the…
Echo Boy from award winning author Matt Haig is a fast paced, science fiction styled novel delving into a much discussed / feared scenario. What happens when robots become … almost too much like humans? Where are the boundaries? Audrey’s father Leo is still coming to grips with this new world. Intelligent, cynical and cautious…
Looking at the Stars from UK author Jo Cotterill is a wonderfully engrossing novel, with a great power lurking between its lines. I love Jo Cotterill’s novel for her ability to put into words what many of us have seen and heard too times, but have never truly understood … … the people behind the…
Trouble from UK author Non Pratt is a powerfully brilliant new YA novel. Refreshingly honest, with realistic dialogue and scenes Trouble is a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this week. The narrative focuses on the lives of fifteen year old Hannah and Aaron – with their respective social groups becoming a key focus too. The narrative switches…
There’s an overwhelming uniqueness to Sally Green’s writing that sets her apart. Her protagonist Nathan is one of the siblings in a family of white witches. With the exception of his eldest sister Jessica, there’s a closeness amongst his family and an overwhelming desire to protect Nathan. Nathan’s father wasn’t a white witch, but a…
Malorie Blackman’s reputation as an author who ‘gets’ children’s literature is very well established. And for good reason. Her writing is not afraid to delve deep, very deep, into powerful issues. Strong themes that will get her loyal audience thinking and questioning. With issues of surveillance so prevalent in today’s society – who is listening…
That Burning Summer is the 2nd release from exciting new novelist Lydia Syson. Her first was the award winning A World Between Us, gaining much positive critical attention. That Burning Summer, set in England during the summer of 1940, sees Syson successfully delving back into the genre of historical fiction. Living close to the English Channel, Peggy and…
It’s here – the novel that attracted the attention of The Guardian’s Julia Eccleshare, author Elen Caldecott AND Hot Key Books publisher Emily Thomas. Joe Ducie won the 2012 Guardian Hot Key Books Young Writers Prize for The Rig. A page turner of a novel, The Rig features fifteen year old Will Drake who has been sent…
Creepy & Maud is a YA novel which is both awkward and intriguing. Looking for a YA novel which is quirky? Delve in … Creepy & Maud is both amusing and heartfelt, strange yet familiar and unlike anything I’ve ever read before … and yes, that most definitely is a good thing! Creepy and Maud…
The Fault In Our Stars from John Green, is a sensitive yet gutsy portrayal of Hazel, a sixteen year old with terminal cancer. Yep, he’s tackled, head on, this most awful illness through the character of Hazel, and her developing friendship with Augustus. Where The Fault In Our Stars wins through is via its multi…
Too Flash is an engrossing chapter book for older readers. Penned by Melissa Lucashenko, an Australian writer of mixed European and Murri heritage she articulates the trials and tribulations of Zo, a fifteen year old who is forced to move across country when her career focused mum is relocated by her employer. Too Flash is a…
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Ooh, this sounds fantastic!
Great review, thanks for posting the pictures. Really makes a difference with picture book reviews. Will order for the store…
I often hope to find interviews with Margaret Wild who fascinates me and whose work I adore. Thoroughly enjoyed this…