A beautiful, emotional
and thought provoking offering from John Green and David Levithan.
Two boys called Will Grayson with polar opposite lives meet one
night in a Chicago porn shop called Frenchy's. How they got there and
where they go next I'm not going to tell you but suffice it to say it's worth
the 309 pages. Not only are the to Will Grayson's totally captivating in
themselves by secondary characters including Tiny Cooper, Jane, Issac and the
Wills' parents provide a world worth exploring.
An interesting concept. Ethan was abducted 9 years ago outside his house. He
spent 7 years with a new family before they left him, a year on a home and a
year on the streets before being reunited with his family.
Coming home isn't easy though -Ethan has to cope with 9 years of memories that
don't include him, a whole town who thought he was dead and a sister he never
knew. Compelling reading with a jaw dropping twist - here's hoping for a
sequel!
Jarratt's
eagerly awaited follow up to the wonder that was Skin Deep last year...
Holly had to move away from everyone she knew, to protect them, the only people
that really know her are her mum and dad and younger sister Katie. What she
witnessed will stay with her forever, it disrupted her life in every possible
way and now she has to live with the consequences... new town, new school, new
life but you can never really leave it all behind.
Beautifully written and easy to read... I just wish Laura Jarratt wrote her
stories quicker!
Can a chance encounter change your life? Allyson was a quiet,
cautious girl, just graduated from high school.. but when she meets the Dutch
Shakespearian actor Wilhelm she decides to throw caution to the wind and leaves
her friends to spend a magical day in Paris with the Dutchman.
Adventure and mystery ensue but a day is never enough. Whilst Allyson is back
in America and starting College her mind is elsewhere and she can't settle
until she finds him again. Is it romance, is it curiosity I can't quite tell.
Forman's main character is a bundle of emotions and uncertainty but how else do
you find out who you are if you don't take a chance? Looking forward to the
sequel in October, Just One
Year.
After attending an event
at the library with the author C.J Skuse I decided to try one of her books...
They aren't what I would normally go for in terms of cover design but I found
myself not able to put Dead Romantic down and finished it in a day.
Zoe and Camille are taking on the experiment of a lifetime - making their own
dream boy! Witty, thoughtful and hilarious - this story incorporates adventure,
drama, romance and teenage angst. An easy, enjoyable read.
A
prelude to Dashner's Maze Runner series - this part of the story focuses on the
disaster which was a prelude to the Maze and Scorch Trials.
Mark and Trina met each other on the day of the flare... as they team up with
other survivors they take on what becomes WICKED's attempt to neutralise
all those infected with the madness that it left behind. As a stand alone it
works well but this idea has to be over now.
The
sequel to McKenzie's Falling Fast - River and Flynn have made it through Romeo
and Juliet, now real life is posing all the problems. Flynn can't handle his
temper, rumours at school are getting worse. River's friends are worried about
her and after one too many incidents Flynn drops a bombshell that tears River's
life apart... can the star crossed lovers make it through? When you're in love
if you're not in the relationship you just can't understand - An easy absorbing
read that teenagers will be able to relate to.
I've
had a bit of reader's block lately and so returned to an old favourite. This is
the third or fourth time I've read 1 Reasons Why and every time I get engrossed
in the story and finish it within 48 hours. Hannah Baker committed to suicide a
fortnight ago but no-one knows why... In the night that follows Clay Jensen
finds out why. There are 13 reasons, 13 people responsible and on 13 sides of
cassette tapes Hannah explains why.
You can touch someone's life without even realising.. have an
effect that snowballs or just catch someone on an off day but unless you
realise how can you help?
The
third in the Chemical Garden Trilogy sees Rhine find her brother and Gabriel
and develop her relationships with her sister wife, Cecily and her husband
Linden. But as with all stories there is always a villain of the peace - House
Master Vaughan. No matter how much she tries Rhine cannot escape Vaughan's
grasp, not when he threatens the lives of everyone Rhine holds dear, but there
are secrets to revealed and friends lost as they hunt the elusive cure. A
fitting end to the trilogy... I look forward to future offerings.
Zoe did a bad thing, a very bad thing. The only person she can tell is
Mr Harris... a prisoner on death row.
A Monster Calls is Patrick Ness' fourth novel after the Chaos
Walking trilogy. Built upon from the original idea of Siobhan Dowd, this tells
the story of 13 year old Connor coming to terms with his mother's fatal
illness. This story is beautifully illustrated by Jim Kay and won both the
Carnegie and Greenaway awards in 2012 (the first o do so in the medals
history).
An emotional and heart wrenching story, easily read in one sitting when the
monster comes calling he helps Connor to admit the truth and share his story,
his fears and hopes. A coming of age story for this generation which will
resonate for years to come.
An exploration of two
teenage girls from very different backgrounds looking for love and acceptance
in a world turned upside down.
When Jill's father died she lost all meaning to her life, closing herself off
from family, friends, and her boyfriend Dylan she tries to find her new place
in the world. Her mum is trying to do the same and invites Mandy into their
loves.
Mandy is 33 weeks pregnant, fleeing from her mother who doesn't love her and a
stepfather who abuses her, the only love she's ever known is an afternoon with
a boy called Christopher.. who may or may not be the father of her baby.
A story full of powerful emotion and self discovery, I couldn't put it down!
I've
always wanted to read a Maggie Stiefvater and went for this one purely on the
cover art - I know... not best way to choose but that's how I roll! I can
honestly say I enjoyed it but am so confused about what actually happened!
Blue
lives in a family of psychics but has no supernatural ability herself - she has
been told from as young as she can remember that if she kisses her true love
she will die - bit harsh when you're 15. This doesn't seem a problem for Blue
until she meets Gansey, Adam and Ronan... the Raven Boys, each with their own
plethora of problems.... what ensues is a search for more supernatural enmeshed
in angst from all characters trying to solve problems beyond their years.
Another choice for those riding the supernatural teen train... Ethan has lived in Gatlin County all his life but when Lena Duchannes comes to town life in Gatlin changes and not all for the better... she's a Caster living with the town recluse but Ethan fights against family and friends to find out who the real Lena is... beautifully paced and a different take on the supernatural which usually focuses on Vamps... can't wait to read the next one!
I tried to hold off but with a week off work this is going to get read quickly!!!!
We follow Lena and Ethan through the all to true teen problems of relationships whilst trying to work out what Sarafine has in store for Lena's 17th birthday... Light or dark who will know and can Lena decide her destiny?
Link is an Incubus, Ridley is mortal but Lena and Ethan are still in love and that is the core of the story as they overcome obstacles and try to decipher the 18th moon's prophecy. The relationships that we have seen develop are tested to the limit as the End of Days nears and no one knows who needs to be sacrificed to stop it... a brilliant written wicca like novel with a true love story at it's core...a definite for anyone who like Vampire Diaries and the like!
The
final instalment in The Caster Chronicles series... Ethan and Lena now live in
different worlds after Ethan's sacrifice at the end of Beautiful Darkness. But,
like teenage love... nothing can separate this couple. As Ethan tries to make
his way back to Lena he encounters the demons and angels of the otherside. Lena
hasn't given up either and she and the rest of the gang including Link, Liv and
Ridley help each other to bring Ethan back where he belongs.
The
latest offering from Pittacus Lore sees the garde of Lorien learning to use
their legacies and work as a team to defeat Setrakus Ra.... The action doesn't
stop in this third instalment, those that are following the series will not be
disappointed especially with each garde member trying to work who is in fact
Pittacus!
A teen series I've been meaning to read for a
while, when I realised there was a graphic novel I thought it would be a
brilliant way to get started!
After being orphaned, James is taken to an
Orphanage... what he doesn't know is he has been head hunted by CHERUB... the
youth section of MI5 - no-one suspects a child of espionage... James gets put
to the test in his first mission but will his naivety get the better of him?
A disease has wiped out all the
people on earth apart from 82 people in a village in Surrey - one of whom
happens to be the only person to engineer a cure for Hav3n! When Michael retruns with the vaccine the people of Little
Sheen have to learn how to survive in a world where they are the only
inhabitants and much rests on the shoulders of the 4 teenagers of the village.
Are you part of the church gang or the Wheatsheaf gang? When
you're the only people in the world is it easier to keep order? it would appear
not!
A nice change from the distopia/vampire fiction that is
drowning the YA market at the moment... and a stand alone to boot!
The fourth instalment in the enemy series...
Children live in the buildings of London hiding from the sickos, the oppos, the
zombies, the adults that have taken over the city. But the zombies are getting
organised, they are being called to the centre of the city whilst the children
arejust trying to survive... recurring characters Dognut, Sarah, David, Ed and
Kyle move the plot along and we learn more about Sam and the Kid and the
shadowman introduced at the end of the fear. Another gripping instalment but
how much longer can it go on for?
When Chris'
best friend dies unexpectedly it affects him in ways he didn't realise it
could..Chris becomes mute whilst he tries to come to terms with Declan's death,
how he feels about Declan's supportive grlfriend and the new boy at school who
reminds him so much of Dec. Well written concerning sensitive issues
A touching coming of age story about first love,
lust and the heartache that follows. This was my first foray into LGBT fiction
and I enjoyed it. It was very easy to forget it was LGBT and think of it as
just another teen love story apart from a couple of pages when Sean was unsure
how to approach the subject of his sexuality with his loved ones.. these pages
spoke outand could have been read separately from the book as a how to. Setting
it in a small town gave the author the chance to show the diversity of a small
population but he needed an outsider from the big city to re-assure Sean that
everything was going to be ok... This Summer changes everything
I've tried to
read The Hobbit and it didn't stick but with the film coming out later this
month I thought I'd try it in simpler chunks... Wenzel's adaption and
illustrations help move the story along... we meet the dwarves and the elves
and the wonderful Gandalf... beautifully illustrated I think I've got the basic
plot down!
Another of the never-ending dsytopian teen novels. This for
me was lacking something although I can't put my finger on what.
Cal is just a normal kid, goes to school, comes home, does his homework but
then the cracks start appearing, voices are in his head, seeing things in the
shadows... and then he is woken from the coma that has been induced in him for
12 years. What ensues is a need for truth, discovery of a new world and the
need to find a family you don't remember.
As Mia trys to come to terms with a tragic accident
we find out whats important and whats not and if young love is really enough...
a definite page turner! Can't say anymore without giving it all away!
The sequel to If I Stay shows a different side of
the story as we follow Adam (Mia's boyfriend) learning to live with the
consequences of Mia's accident and all that comes after. If anything enjoyed
this more than the first.
Sarah Dessen is an author I've been meaning to read
for a long time and I wasn't disappointed! An energetic coming of age story as
Macy learns the truth about perfect with a Summer full of surprises.
Meg Rosoff is another one of those authors I feel I
should have read and I'm not sure if I started with the best one or not. What I
Was is a foray into first love and in my mind the story was very slow and
predictable but whilst saying this I did fall in love with the underlying
beauty of Rosoff's writing... I felt I was there in the beach hut as it was
being beaten by the natural elements, I could smell the salt air and the
crackling fire so maybe it was just the story that didn't grab me but this got
me thinking...
Can you dislike a book whilst enjoying the writing
style?
This is an amazing debut from Laura Jarratt... the
story of Jenna and Ryan isn't your normal teen love story there are obstacles
to overcome and twists I didn't even see coming but you instantly fall in love
with Jenna's vulnerability and Ryan's need for protection... beautifully
written with characters that are so real and raw as they learn that true love
never did run smooth...
Apparently if you liked Hunger Games you'll love
this but as it's going it reminds me more of Maze Runner or Knife of Never
Letting Go (both excellent)... I did end up enjoying this more than I would
although quite predictable... doesn't help that the blurb on the back of the
book tells you what's going to happen!
A beautiful teen story set in the future when all
men die at the age of 25 and all women die at the age of 20.. as with many teen
novels the underlying emotion in this is love, Rhine is married off to Linden
at the same time as two other "sister wives" but the only thing she
cares about is escaping her new mansion home to find her twin brother... enter
attendant Gabriel and things start to get a bit blurry... a definite page
turner, this had been recommended to me and with good cause, can't wait for the
next in the series!
The second in The Chemical Garden Trilogy... fans
of teen dystopian fiction will lap this up - Just when you thought it couldn't
get stranger DeStefano takes you into a world of brilliant imagery and
characterisation. Gabriel and Rhine have escaped from the mansion and are
making there way to New York to find Rhine's brother.. a brilliant second
episode, write the third one quickly please!
Just as good the second time round.. am sure you
all know the story by now... girl volunteers herself to save her sister...
moral and physical challenges ensue... Katniss is chosen for the 74th annual
Hunger Games, a "celebration" which pits 24 children against each other
to the death, the more brutal the better... enjoy!
Recommended by a colleague, this is another
perspective on the teenager cancer story... how to cope with death and teenage
angst at the same time is a common thread in YA fiction but Green deals with it
very well giving his main characters a support system of peers and family...
plus there's always the love story!
Read the whole thing in an evening and whilst not
moved to tears I still find myself wondering how the characters are getting on!
Something about Jay Asher books - always page
turners and I can never make them last because they're just so good! Yes, the
plotline was pretty predictable but it's the characters you fall in love with
and you'll love Josh and Emma... enjoy!
I enjoyed Smith's earlier series Furnace so when
this came out it was on my list. This starts out as a teen zombie story.. much
like Higson's The Enemy series but there is a twist.. there are points where
you wonder where the plot is going... it could have been shorter to make it
punchier but the twist at the end is worth getting to.
The last in Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy... it has
the feel of Higson's The Enemy. Without giving anything away if you like a good
dystopan adventure I would recommend this... not in a Hunger Games way but more
a The Enemy, Divergent way but for 11/12yrs.. think kids can definitely relate
with the characters and there is enough action to keep you reading...
especially liked the fast paced ending!
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