BOOK BLURB:
This cleverly constructed narrative consists of three points of view: of Gary, constantly victimised by the school bully in a nasty, name-calling and vindictive way; the bully's friend, David and a new girl to the school, Zoe. All viewpoints are revealing. Gary reveals the painful and often unsuccessful attempts by a young man to control his anger under great provocation - and his inability to communicate. David is someone who is uncomfortable with the bullying but doesn't dare to do anything about it - until the end. Zoe is a young woman who can see Gary through different eyes and is independent, freethinking and brave. Also featured in this title are rampaging tractors, shotguns and cheese puffs.
REVIEW:
Author’s are getting braver all the time so its something to be supported when they create a novel that deals with issues experienced by a number of their readers. Within this offering is a careful look and examination of the problems as well as trauma’s (both physical and mental) caused by bullying as the author lets the reader discover the events and how it made people feel from the three principle protagonists within. Its cleverly written and when you top that off with characters that will just speak not only the same language as the reader but also help them to see that they’re not as isolated as they may feel and it’s a title that I’d recommend all parents to read as well as demanding that their local library purchases a copy.
BOOK BLURB:
This is the third and final instalment in the paranormal adventure trilogy. Having narrowly escaped the clutches of the Hope Project, Rachel and Adam begin a new life in Australia. Their tranquillity is shattered, however, by the reappearance of Gabriel - and the terrifying adventure that they had hoped was over begins again. Hunted by enemies, old and new, their journey to discover the third, and final, Triskellion takes them home to New York, where they finally learn the chilling truth about their ancestry...
REVIEW:
Readers these days have certain expectations when it comes to storytelling however I felt that I really couldn’t get behind the novel as the characters were pretty damn flat. That could be perhaps because I haven’t read the original two in the series but the principle protagonist really did seem as dull as dishwater from the off in this offering. Add to the mix some pretty standard twists and nothing new which really did make this tale a struggle to not only finish but a real let down to the writers. A great shame as I know some of the fans of the other two were expecting something really special with this tale.
BOOK BLURB:
England, 1321. Welcome to the Dark Ages. In the heart of the countryside lies an isolated village, where pagan Owl Masters rule through fear, superstition and murder. When a group of religious women ill-advisedly settles outside the village, they awaken dangerous jealousies. Why do their crops succeed? How do their cattle survive the plague? Are they concealing a holy relic which protects them from harm? The Owl Masters cry 'Witchcraft' and sharpen their talons. As torment and hellfire rain down, the women must look to their faith to save them from the darkness spreading across the land. Fear is a question of what you believe. And death alone the answer.
REVIEW:
With many readers wanting something a little different to whet their appetites and to flavour their dreams its always something special when something new arrives. What occurs within this offering, is a story set within the 14th Century with a touch of the supernatural making this a pretty unique beast. Add to the mix characters that just jump off the page backed up with an almost unique voice behind each one for when they’re telling their part makes this more of a community book rather than an individual. I’ll definitely be reading Maitland again.
BOOK BLURB:
Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun ...Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place - when the twelve legendary heroes stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far, he reawakens an old blood feud and finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is ...Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero.
REVIEW:
Stroud is a masterful storyteller and as such gets the reader to consider the interpretation of myths and legends and their formation from within the bards mythos within this new offering. Beautifully written with an almost cinematic descriptiveness, backed up with some fair dialogue made this tale move along, however its his character development and personalities that made this offering stand out more than anything else as I personally loved the stubbornness of Aud who really made this book for me. Great characterisation, great descriptiveness but perhaps most of all a fun tale that will endear itselves to readers so much so they’ll be clamouring for more tales by the fireside.
BOOK BLURB:
Beware the darkness and the light. They will steal your soul in day or night. In summer's warmth or winter's cold Your life will end when the Vours take hold. In the fearscape no one can hear you cry, And in its depth your soul will die. Reggie Halloway thought she was finished with the Vours - the demons who had possessed her brother, Henry - forever. She'd once faced them in a deathly battle for Henry's soul and now she wants to forget them. But Quinn, the Vour she left at the bottom of a lake, is back. And he is not alone.
REVIEW:
The second novel in Alyson’s Immortal series and one that has a lot to live up to. After all with the way in which the original was left it was pretty much a shocker for the reader. What perhaps makes this tale a bit more realistic is the more rounded nature to the characters with a lot of their personality defects coming to the fore within, demonstrating that even when love is found, its not smooth sailing.
As with the original its got beautiful prose, great character development and finally topped up with just a sprinkle of reasonable dialogue wrapped up with some quite complex emotional issues to deal with. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Beware the darkness and the light. They will steal your soul in day or night. In summer's warmth or winter's cold Your life will end when the Vours take hold. In the fearscape no one can hear you cry, And in its depth your soul will die. Reggie Halloway thought she was finished with the Vours - the demons who had possessed her brother, Henry - forever. She'd once faced them in a deathly battle for Henry's soul and now she wants to forget them. But Quinn, the Vour she left at the bottom of a lake, is back. And he is not alone.
REVIEW:
Having missed the original novel in this series I was a little worried that I wouldn’t get as much enjoyment out of this tale as I hoped. Luckily enough I was wrong. It is beautifully written with some wonderful touches of macabre topped off with great dialogue and descriptiveness. With me enjoying this title so much so that I will be going back to pick up the original prior to a reread for the full experience.
BOOK BLURB:
Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at Prefect Academy, an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in what seems to be the sherbet-coloured-sweater capital of the world. Ick. There's no way Viola's going to survive the year - especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like being at Prefect. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera. But boarding school is nothing like Viola thought it would be, and she soon realises that she may be in for the most incredible year of her life. But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.
REVIEW:
OK, lets be brutal here. When this offering landed I really wasn’t expecting to much out of the deal. After all, the book blurb wasn’t the type of thing that normally grabs me but since I was at a loose end I decided to give it a go.
What I discovered within was a tale of friendship, of growing up and above all learning from mistakes whilst learning to cope with the changes that life throws at you. It’s beautifully written, the prose almost as if the principle protagonista were an old friend which really sells this title to the readers. Add to the mix a touch of young love, some heartbreak and a new environment for our heroine and it’s a title that shows that you can adapt to anything with good friends/family to help you through. A magical experience and one that I hope a great many others will give a fair crack of the whip to. I will definitely keep an eye out for more by Adriana.
BOOK BLURB:
High on the cliffs near Dover, the Silver family is reeling from the loss of Lily, mother of twins Eliot and Miranda, and beloved wife of Luc. Miranda misses her with particular intensity. Their mazy, capricious house belonged to her mother's ancestors, and to Miranda, newly attuned to spirits, newly hungry for chalk, it seems they have never left. Forcing apples to grow in winter, revealing and concealing secret floors, the house is fiercely possessive of young Miranda. Joining voices with her brother and her best friend Ore, it tells her story: haunting in every sense, and a spine-tingling tribute to the power of magic, myth and memory. Miri I conjure you...
REVIEW:
To be honest a novel that not only confused me but one that took me a while to get into. Not that it’s a bad novel or anything just the almost disjointed way in which the author starts each section fried my mind a little, although personally speaking that’s not a bad thing. What unfurls within this offering is a ghost tale that literally haunt the reader from the first 20 pages to the last few as you’re taken on a journey weirder than the twilight zone. Perhaps not the best book for everyone but one that definitely is worth a look if you want something a little different to the norm.
BOOK BLURB:
Spending the night away from home can be a daunting prospect and Dinosaur is so anxious that he invents many reasons as to why he can't go: his family will miss him, he won't have his toothbrush or his clean pyjamas, and he can't possibly sleep without his teddy! But his little boy helps Dinosaur overcome his fears, and together they discover just how much fun a sleepover can be.
REVIEW:
In a world where children are worried about different things, its quite rare for an author to present the young reader with an offering that allows them to learn about what to expect prior to the event. Here, we see a sleepover where things are explained to a dinosaur by his owner and backed up with some really beautiful artwork. Its quirky, it’s fun but above all it will be a story that will endear itself to young readers and adults alike. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Join the dots, spot the differences, colour in and have fun recreating the adventures of the snail who hitched a lift on the tail of an enormous whale! This brilliant activity book is packed with exciting puzzles and games featuring characters and scenes from this bestselling story. There are even over 40 reusable stickers and a sticker scene - hours of fun!
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of Julia and Axel, its always something great when you get a tale that not only entertains but also allows the reader a lot of freedom to create something on their own. That’s what you get in the activity book of the much loved classic as the reader has so many puzzles and tasks that it’ll take days of their time to fulfil. Its beautifully drawn, its got great options but most of all it’s a title that will benefit from multiple photocopies to allow the reader the chance to enjoy it time and again.
BOOK BLURB:
Ben is on a school trip. So is Jasmine. What they don't know is that not everybody in the theatre is there to watch the play and, in fact, they'll never get to see it ...There is panic at the Barbican when the fire alarms start wailing, but the strangely silent theatre staff, trap them inside the building rather than letting them out to safety. Ben, Jasmine and their classmates soon discover that there's no fire - what's happening is much weirder, and much scarier. Strange spider-like creatures swarm through the building attacking people and turning them into vicious killers, and the kids have to run for their lives. But barricaded in an office, with these creatures waiting outside for them, the children realise they're stuck. Will they ever get out? And, more importantly can they trust each other?
REVIEW:
If you want a horror story that will make you itch, will make you squirm and above all will entertain the reader then you really have to get your hands on this offering by Sam Enthoven. It’s got some wicked twists, the story arc is more twisted than a knotted rope and its all topped off with some great characterisation as the reader comes to learn about the enemy within.
A top notch offering and one that will really have this book flying amongst the young readers as word of mouth sings this offerings praises in a world that’s overly populated with so much of the same old fiction with this totally new and bizarre offering.
BOOK BLURB:
Otto, Jen and Charlotte have planned the trip of a lifetime to India for their gap year, before going their separate ways to university. For Charlotte, it's an opportunity to get involved in an environmental project and finally feel like she's doing something worthwhile; for Otto, it's the perfect opportunity to take some real photos to help his career as a photojournalistic; for Jen, it's the realisation of a lifelong dream. But when Otto discovers the body of a girl on the beach, things take a sinister turn as he finds himself a prime suspect in her murder. Together Otto, Charlotte and Jen start to unravel the mystery behind the girl's death. Can they discover the truth and clear Otto's name and even if they do will they be able to handle what they find as their dreams of paradise crumble around them...
REVIEW:
For me Sarah is a bit of a hit or miss author and with me disliking her last offering only due to the fact that the bad guy got what they wanted with no punishment, then it made this one pretty hard to pick up to begin with.
What unfurls within this offering is a tale of mystery, of murder and one that requires the reader to keep an eye on the action in order to fully comprehend what’s happening. Its Sarah’s best work to date and one that I easily could get behind to champion to readers. Add to the mix some almost photographic descriptive sequences, a human and flawed cast and its really a tale that will hit the spot for many young readers.
BOOK BLURB:
Oscar is not looking forward to Grandad coming to look after him at the weekend - it means he'll have to play endless rounds of chess or Monopoly, instead of war games on his computer. But when he finds Dad's ancient laptop in the study, he can't resist logging on to something called Project X - and all too soon Oscar creates a real live warrior, who is programmed to obey his every command. However Monstroso's wires are more than a little crossed, and Oscar finds himself in all sorts of trouble...Crazy fighting and monsters abound in Charlie's Higson's highly entertaining story for younger readers.
REVIEW:
Short stories are something special especially when you get a descent author writing a title for World Reading Day. What unfurls within this offering by Charlie Higson is a tale that takes the reader into the world of the fantastical and brings positive attributes to the readers imagination.
That said however, the principle protagonist is a bit of a spoilt brat at the beginning of this offering and whilst this makes his change more dramatic did feel that it was left a little bit to late to fully engage the reader like him. Add to this offering computers and games that many of us can easily identify, a mystical and magical grandfather character alongside a huge amount of destruction with a touch of humour and it is worth persevering with.
BOOK BLURB:
Before the accident, Lia Kahn was happy. Before the accident, Lia Kahn was loved. Lia was a lot of things before...She was normal, alive...and human. But Lia no longer believes in before. Six months after the crash that killed her, six months after being reborn, Lia has finally accepted her new reality. She is a machine, a mech, and she belongs with her own kind. It's a wild and carefree life, without rules and without fear. Because there's nothing to fear when you have nothing left to lose. But when a voice from her past cries out for revenge, everything changes and Lia is forced to choose between her old life and her new one. How many people - mechs and human - is Lia willing to hurt to protect her freedom? And how far is she willing to go to protect the people she loves? In the tradition of Scott Westerfeld comes the second book in this riveting and edgy science fiction novel which raises questions of mortality, technology and morality.
REVIEW:
I loved the original offering by Rachel as it was not only wonderfully written but very though provoking. As such it made this sequel a must own. The prose are delightful, the dialogue snappy but above all she is an author who knows how to not only hook the reader but keep them engrossed until the final page is turned. A great offering and one that really does make Rachel’s writing something that will from now on end up at the top of my Young Adult reading pile.
BOOK BLURB:
The nail-biting climax to Kelley Armstrong's bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them. As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...Definitely not normal.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of Kelley’s writing I really did have to own this title as soon as I could. What was perhaps harder was waiting to read this title as I wanted to reread the previous offerings in the series to refresh not only my memory but to build the tension and pleasure of the first read.
Not only does the tale carry on from where the previous have left off but the characters do continue to grow as does their friendships. Its unique, its positive and when you add an authors experience into the story arc delivers something that is immensely satisfying for the reader. Add some scary moments, some Saturday Morning cliff hangers and top it off with some great dialogue and you have a title that will enthuse readers the world over.
BOOK BLURB: Beasts and Monsters
In the cold, dead eyes of the Banshee, and the hissing, spitting fangs of the Gorgon; in the fiery breath of the dragon and the razor sharp claws of the Sphinx - there is a thirst for blood and a murderous hunger. But it is a time of heroes, and the teeth and claws of these hideous beasts are no match for the lethal blades of such men.
BOOK BLURB: Battles and Quests
In a time of war, of death and destruction, the world needs heroes - Arthur, Theseus, and Geriguiaguiatugo - their names are whispered on the wind - tales of epic quests, of furious battles, beasts slain and the glory of victory.
REVIEW:
There are some stories that have been handed down by firesides for millennia and as such each new generation puts its own spin upon them to not only breathe life into them for the next generation but to also expand and pass on morals and attributes to the descendents on what ideal’s the teller wishes to promote.
Here in the latest offerings from Anthony Horrowitz we get tales that have amused as well as frightened, promoted positive attributes and dire warnings. Told in Anthony’s own indomitable sense of humour as well as quirky sense of the macabre it’s a series of stories that really will hook the reader and in such a brief amount of words that the reader will remember them for a long time. Add to the mix tales from all cultures including the more familiar Greek as well as the virtually unknown native American stories and its something that really will appeal to a number of people.
Within these two titles are bite sized offerings that really did keep me, as an adult enthralled especially with the tales that I was unfamiliar with and has created a need within to explore some of these mysterious cultures in deeper research. Definitely a couple of titles to purchase as these short story offerings make ideal bed time material, especially when backed up with the beautiful illustrations within.
BOOK BLURB:
A special adaptation for younger readers of the international bestselling Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. A heart-warming story about the library cat who inspired the lives of those around him as well as people across the world. At only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, Dewey was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. The next morning librarian, Vicki Myron, finds him and nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he would become the library's offical pet! Dewey soon learns to love his new home, spending each day spreading his own special brand of love to those that enter the library and winning the hearts of everyone around him.
REVIEW:
I’m a sucker for an animal story so when I originally heard about Dewey I really did have to read about his extraordinary life from his humble beginnings as a dirty kitten in the book drop system to famed cat of the library.
Beautifully told for the younger audience this tale not only had me in tears but at other times laughter as you learned about his quirks as well as mischievous antics. However that said, one thing I will warn you about ahead of time is the build up to Dewey’s passing. This, not only had me in floods of tears but also upset me as to the harsh treatment of Dewey by the library’s board members, who made me feel disgusted that they could easily disguard an “employee” who had brought love, community spirit and his own brand of friendship to their town through some very hard financial years.
Whilst a number of readers will be fascinated with this colourful character it is a tale that deals with death and the behaviour of some of the humans will certainly disgust alongside upset a number of readers. So be warned, you may well wish to read this title before allowing your young reader the title.
BOOK BLURB:
In Ethan Wate’s hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . . There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head. Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes. There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it’s been promised. And no one can stop it. In the end, there is a grave. Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming.
REVIEW:
Whilst I wasn’t overly enamoured of the book blurb, when I started reading this offering I was more than hooked by the authors writing style. The prose is an instant hook alongside a protagonist that the readers can identify with pretty quickly. Add to the mix a tale of love and suspense and you know that its going to be something that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.
Its quirky, its unique and with two authors who blend so seamlessly into the each others writing style it’s a very successful partnership. Definitely one to pick up and enjoy as well as recommending to others who enjoy the paranormal romance angle.
BOOK BLURB:
Dead people don't make great companions, something cute, athletic Ken finds out the hard way when, following an accident on the football field, he starts hearing ghostly voices. It's not the kind of gift he would have asked for - especially when it gets him involved in a love triangle with his dead best friend's girlfriend - but there's nothing he can do about it, until an anonymous note invites him to a seance. Completely convinced by the medium he meets, Ken tries to tell her about his secret. Only his gifted classmates can save him from revealing the truth - and finding himself in terrible danger...
REVIEW:
Having started Marilyn’s writing after a couple of these titles had been out for a bit I did wonder if it would be just a tale for the younger female audience. What unfurls within will win readers of both genders as the author has a good grasp of creating realistic characters that whilst struggling with their own unique gifts find ways to help others alongside forging friendships. This offering is perhaps the strangest and perhaps best to date as we follow the tale of a boy who can speak with the dead.
Add a descent story arc, a selfish character or two and you know that theres something for every young reader to get from this offering as the author promotes self sacrifice, friendship and other positive attributes. A great thing to do in this modern age and one that will definitely appeal to many as we’re all pretty unique in this world.
BOOK BLURB:
Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, 'Take my hand ...' But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren't rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose - to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That's why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world...
REVIEW:
Having read Alex’s writing for the adult market I always wondered how well his style of storytelling would translate to the younger audience. After all its usually a talent either you have or you don’t and is one that is incredibly difficult to pull off without either making it look like you’re being condescending or perhaps over simplifying things for the audience who love a complex tale as much as an adult does.
Alex keeps it pretty easy to follow without having to dumb down his idea’s and presents an offering that will have the younger reader hooked pretty much from the beginning with characters that not only blend well together but have strengths and weaknesses that compliment each other.
Add to the mix a rich background alongside some great dialogue and it makes this something pretty unique for the younger audience with characters that will appeal to both genders in this science fiction extravaganza.
BOOK BLURB:
