BOOK BLURB:
Nelson Mandela is a true hero of our times, loved and admired across the globe for his dedication to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and for justice and peace throughout the world. This book tells the story of his life, from his carefree days as an ordinary village boy, to his unflinching leadership of the ANC, the long years in prison and his eventual freedom and extraordinary elevation to President of South Africa. Abridged by acclaimed author Chris van Wyk and beautifully illustrated by Paddy Bouma, this is an important book bringing an inspirational man to life for a younger generation.
REVIEW:
To be honest this title was pretty hard to review as its seen as perhaps one of the most important biographies of the 20th century, the tale of a man of humble birth who stood up for the masses against the few and lived to tell the tale.
As most people are aware, Nelson Mandela is a hero to many and this offering, full of beautiful illustrations brings his story to life for the younger reader. It’s simplistic, it helps explains his story and of course its done in such a delicate way that it really is enchanting. A great offering from Macmillan that really will help endear this title to a whole generation demonstrating how morals and beliefs can change the world.
BOOK BLURB:
When four girls meet to discuss their weekend plans, little do they know quite what excitements lie before them. Soon they are embroiled in a brilliant diamond heist, trans-Atlantic flights, various romances and a lot of high-octane adventure in London and New York. Based on Noel Clarke's new film of the same name with countrywide summer 2010 release, this novelisation keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as the girls embark on a weekend they will never forget.
REVIEW:
To be honest, not a title that I was looking forward to reading, and whilst it does follow the film script it was pretty much as dire as that offering. It’s self indulgent, it’s pretty slow and to be honest the characters seem so contradictory you just wish that someone would hurry up and kill them. All in, it’s a title that I’d advise that you don’t bother with as you’ll be fairly upset at wasting your money as well as your time. A real shame that the publisher even looked at this title.
Release Date: 02/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
After the initiation ceremony of Reed's newly created secret society, Noelle has disappeared and the only clue is a mysterious note. Is Reed's behaviour the cause or is there something more sinister happening? With the kidnapper warning of worse things to come if Reed tells anyone of Noelle's abduction, Reed realises it's up to her discover who has taken Noelle and to try and rescue her...before she becomes the next target.
REVIEW:
OK, this title is a little different to a lot of the Private titles already out there. For this reason it has gotten back more to the roots of the original premise and allowed the author a bit more freedom so that this title is different enough and therefore not a clone as some of the others have felt.
Whilst a number of people will wonder what the author is up to, it contains emotional conflict , friendships sorely tested with a twist that many won’t see coming. It’s definitely a title that has left me demanding the next time sooner rather than later. The only real quibble that I have, is to do with one of the task’s that Reed is charged to complete. It felt childish, it felt unnessesary and to be honest it felt that it was just there to help wad up some of the pages. With luck, the next title to feature Reed will solve the riddle on the task’s set but at the moment the reader is left a little up in the air.
Readers and fans of the series should be made aware that the next release will be a prequel but one with a major difference. So keep an eye out, if its as good as the excerot it’s going to impress as well as satisfy many an established fan.
Release Date: 26/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
In the beginning we were nine. We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now ...Three are gone. We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We're just trying to survive. Six are left. But we are hunted, and the hunters won't stop until they've killed us all. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. I am Number Four. I know that I am next.
REVIEW:
To be honest with you, the book blurb didn’t enthuse me with confidence. It just didn’t grab me and the first twenty pages felt like it backed my original thoughts to the hilt.
After that, however, I was pleased that I persevered as this book blends aliens into the superhero genre alongside a war secretly waged by the beings that massacred the heroes home planet to eradicate all survivors.
This title is well written, the leading character fascinating and the three principle support cast members really make this tale with their dialogue alongside the emotional interaction. By the end of this story I had made notes to seek out future releases in this series and I’d suggest that you help your young reader get the most from this by helping them past the initial set up.
BOOK BLURB:
Now that schoolboy Jack has embraced his doggy alter ego - Anubis, jackal-headed god of the dead - he must travel to the Afterlife and join his dead grandparents in a fight against evil that could affect the whole of history. No pressure then, Jack.
REVIEW:
As a fan of the first offering by Jill Marshall I just had to pick up this title as soon as it landed. Part paying homage by putting it within my mouth whilst I finished making a sandwich and a cup of tea. What unfurls within is a tale that keeps you guessing to the last page, has hints and clues and allows the characters within to grow to fulfil a greater part of their potential. The dialogue works, the descriptiveness works and above all else it’s the authors ability to suck you into her world that really takes it to another level. Whilst you can read this with out having read the first I’d definitely advise starting with book one, especially if you’re trying to get you young reader to enjoy reading more as well as giving them something special.
BOOK BLURB:
Berren has lived in the city all his life. He has made his way as a thief, paying a little of what he earns to the Fagin like master of their band. But there is a twist to this tale of a thief. One day Berren goes to watch an execution of three thieves. He watches as the thief-taker takes his reward and decides to try and steal the prize. He fails. The young thief is taken. But the thief-taker spots something in Berren. And the boy reminds him of someone as well. Berren becomes his apprentice. And is introduced to a world of shadows, deceit and corruption behind the streets he thought he knew. Full of richly observed life in a teeming fantasy city, a hectic progression of fights, flights and fancies and charting the fall of a boy into the dark world of political plotting and murder this marks the beginning of a new fantasy series for all lovers of fantasy - from fans of Kristin Cashore to Brent Weeks.
REVIEW:
Stephen breaks into the Young Adult Fantasy Market with this offering and to be honest its an offering that will soon win him some younger fans. The writing style is beautiful, the prose ideal and to be brutally honest one that really will help the reader imagine the city in which the tale is set.
Add to the mix great combat, some magical twists and an author who plays for keeps which makes this title a book that really was a real joy to read. Fans of Stephens adult titles will definitely want to recommend this title to younger family members and will enjoy this title just as much themselves. A great kick off to the Gollancz Young Adult publishing business and if the quality is kept will soon make them a serious name for Young Adult quality fiction.
BOOK BLURB:
Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe must journey to the uncharted isle of Altus to continue her search for the missing pages of the Book of Chaos - the pages that could tell her how to end the prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. But the journey will test more than just her courage, it will also test her loyalty to her beloved boyfriend, James. Meanwhile, twin sister Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim Lia's role as the Gate. And that's not the only thing she wants from her sister: there's also Lia's true love. The outcome of their battle could have consequences of Biblical proportions and, in the end, only one sister will be left standing.
REVIEW:
If you’re considering picking up a new title, please be aware that this offering is a second title in the series and with the complications of the original make this one that can’t be read without having gone through that. Whilst the first didn’t exactly set the world alight it did have an interesting premise and with twins as the central characters it’s definitely something interesting.
What this offering does is build upon the background laid down in the original and did give the reader more bang for their buck which whilst may be a bit more promising seems to offer the reader even more for the next title. However that said, I’d advise that this is something that the reader perhaps borrows from the library to give them the tale rather than purchase as I’m still not confident in the authors ability to give them a solid seal of approval.
BOOK BLURB:
Meet Susannah Simon: she's a typical teenage girl who just happens to be a ghost-hunter...oh, and she's also dead-over-heels for Jesse - the sexiest spook ever! But can this girl get her ghost? In Grave Doubts , Suze has to contend with fellow ghost-hunter, Paul Slater, who gives her a deadly ultimatum. Unless she dates him, he'll send Jesse into the afterlife - for good. Paul may be totally hot, but Susannah Simon will not be bossed around. Let the games begin...In Heaven Sent , all Suze's dreams have come true - she's finally dating the most gorgeous ghost of all time, Jesse! But when her creepy admirer threatens to travel back in time and stop Jesse from dying, Suze is distraught. Will her new boyfriend choose life or love?
REVIEW:
OK, I’m new to Meg’s Mediator series and this omnibus are books five and six of the series. So I wasn’t really sure what to expect upon cracking the cover. What I got was a book that was full of mystery, had good pace and above all else interwove the whole offering with the tale of romance. It’s well written, it has some great dialogue and for the price, its definitely value for money. Whether you’d be best reading this without having read the previous instalments I can’t say. (I have to admit to cheating here through the use of Wiki in order to make sure I was caught up.) Add to the mix that this series could have been the inspiration for Ghost Whisperer along with an author renowned for quality and high performance writing and you know that you really are in for a treat.
BOOK BLURB:
Deep within the heart of the Moiraean Mountains lies the town of Opum Oppidulum - home to the freezing Lake Beluarum and it's rumoured monster. An inescapable asylum stands in the centre of the lake, enclosed by the sheer cliffs of Drop Rock island. When Ambrose Grammaticus, famous inventor and master engineer, viciously attacks his own son, Rex, he is hauled to the island and imprisoned. Rex knows his evil stepmother, Acantha, is behind his father's 'madness', but how can he prove it? Only the asylum holds the answers ...This is a savage story of treachery, lunacy, greed, revenge and pure unadulterated wickedness.
REVIEW:
A different take on a modern fairy tale as our principle protagonista is thrust into a building full of the rich and famous. Definitely an interesting novel and one that thrusts the reader into a world that we all wish that we could live in as the heroine faces off against the usual teen issues. Good fun, entertaining and above all else beautifully written with a lead character who just jumps of the page to be someone that you could find on most streets and that, above all else, is what sells this novel.
Release Date: 19/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
Haven Moore has always known she's different: there are the talents that can't be explained; the knowledge of places she's never been; and, then there are the visions that overwhelm her - terrifying visions of a life that ended tragically two decades earlier and more than a thousand miles away in New York City. The citizens of Haven's rural, highly religious community, believe that she's been possessed by a demon. But this is no demon: it's reincarnation. Haven journeys all the way to Manhattan in search of clues about her past life and a decades-old murder. One wrong move could lead her into the clutches of the sinister villain at the center of a conspiracy much larger than she could have ever imagined. But if she makes the right choices, Haven will find the answers she's been seeking her entire life. This is an epic and thrilling romance set in the snake-handling churches of Appalachia, the dusty ruins of ancient Rome, and the grand mansions of Manhattan. The Eternal Ones tells the story of the first battle in a war between undying love and eternal evil.
REVIEW:
Tales of soul mates destined to be together are pretty much ten a penny, yet Kirsten’s novel takes the reader on an almost Shakespearian Tragedy story arc that delved into the emotional aspect of the leading lady and man. It’s almost poetic and whilst the characters didn’t grab me, the potential alongside the writing style, more than made up for their flaws. This tale probably won’t appeal to everyone but if you want a story where emotional conflict wars against powerful enemies and tender hooks keep you drawn, then this may well be the book for you.
Release Date: 06/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
Molly Moon is unstoppable! She's a master hypnotist, a time-traveller and a mind-reader, and in this sizzling new story she harnesses a new power - morphing. Soon she and her twin brother Micky are swapping bodies with ladybirds, dogs, rats, even the Queen of England herself! But they can't continue for ever ...and unless they can get their hands on 'The Advanced Arts' hypnotism book, they will never get back to their own bodies. Sabotaged by a gaggle of wicked women who want to destroy them, Molly and Micky must find a way to return to themselves in spite of all the dangerous surprises thrown their way.
REVIEW:
OK, this title is the fifth release in the Molly Moon series and to be honest is not the best place to start. How do I know? Well this is my first adventure with Molly and the gang and to be brutal, I was lost over the first few pages. So a break was taken, the computer was fired up and after a quick trip to Wiki I was ready to carry on.
Knowing the previous history allowed this tale to flow and whilst not every character was brought out to their full potential there was enough there to keep the story moving and give the reader what they wanted: A story where Molly and her brother will face off against equally powerful villains.
All in, this offering is well written, the dialogue believable, the villains are deliciously dark and to finish off this tale takes Molly Moon to a whole other level. I really will have to look at the previous offerings when time allows.
BOOK BLURB:
Morton doesn't want to play with his little brother - little brothers are BORING! A dragon, on the other hand, would make a really exciting playmate. Just think of the things they could do together! Swimming, hide-and-seek, whistling...Hmmm. Maybe having a big, green, flying, fire-breathing dragon in tow would be less than practical. Eventually Morton realises that having a regular little brother isn't quite so bad after all!
REVIEW:
Imagine getting told to go and play with your brother and wish that he was a Dragon instead? Well that’s near enough what happens in this offering from these authors, except rather than finding it to be a very cool and fun experience, Morton discovers all the problems that this would entail. Its definitely fun, its quirky and to be honest was a real joy to read. I’ll look forward to sharing this with my nephews as I know that they’ll get a blast out of it.
BOOK BLURB:
Dru has made it to Schola, the leading school where the vampire-fighting Order is based. There she is up against the capricious Anna, the only other female who shares her powers. Dru must unlock the mystery of who betrayed her mother, battle her intensifying feelings for both Graves and Christophe, and try to stay hidden from Sergej's deadly nosferat - bloodthirsty hunters who'll stop at nothing to destroy her.
REVIEW:
Having loved this young adult series from Lilith with the first two offerings, I was left thinking what Lili could do for this, the third instalment. What occurs within is a journey of growth both emotionally and physically and how our heroine learns to adapt to her new environment. It is well written, it has great pace and there is a huge innocence with the principle character that will endear this title to the adult reader. Add to the mix great timing through lulls and peaks and some dialogue that really does sound like it would come from the real world. A great title from Lili and one that I’ve already placed in an easy to access area for me to enjoy again soon, especially when I need the literature equivalent of chicken soup. Roll on the next adventure.
BOOK BLURB:
Imagine if instead of getting the usual lollipop or sticker everywhere you go, there was something bigger on offer...something much, much bigger! This is exactly what happens when a little boy accompanies his mum on a busy shopping trip. Just when the little boy thinks he's going to die of boredom, something very unusual happens...shops everywhere are giving away a very special treat with every purchase ~ a free dinosaur! It's a dream come true...except, what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince mum to let you keep them?
REVIEW:
Shopping is an onerous task but in this offering theres a bonus. A free dinosaur with your purchase. But what could you do with them? How would you look after them and of course a Mum who learns of the fun she can have with her son. A great tale (or tail if you prefer) and one that really was a lot of fun. Whilst this isn’t a brand new story I love it when I get the chance to find out about books that have been out for a number of years that will have magical connotations when read to the younger generation. If you want something to help your own little “monster” get to sleep at night and have fun with the beautiful artwork then this is a real gem to pick up. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
London, 1865, and young Theresa Hatch (Tess, to her friends) receives a nast surprise late at night. When Horatio finds a young girl on his doorstep, passed out, dying - apparently poisoned - he's appalled. Investigations lead to Tess's old workhouse, but a surprise visit to that sorry establishment yields more questions than answers. Only one thing is clear: something very, very bad is happening to the children in the East End. There's a mystery to be solved, sending Lyle, Thomas, Tate and - naturally - Tess out into the wilds of east London and a certain former thief's old stamping grounds. What they find is terrifying: Tess's old crowd of artful dodgers and ace pickpockets are now wandering the streets like zombies, drooling in the workhouses or plain mad in the asylum. And it isn't just affecting Tess' old crowd; children all over the area are turning up with their memories in tatters and their minds all but gone. The only clue is a name, half-whispered in fear: Old Greybags.
REVIEW:
A new take on the old Victorian Crime drama that’s part bumbling along and part Sherlock Holmes with a more magical element within. Its beautifully written with characters that just come alive from all walks of life. Not only is it inventive for the Young Adult market but definitely a title that will speak more to the modern day readership than the offerings of Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. Whilst some of the jobs and terminology within may be a bit alien to the modern reader it does add a layer of authenticity to the tale that wends a merry path through to the end. A great book and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
BOOK BLURB:
Abigail is a maidservant in Greave Hall, an elegant London household governed by the tyrannical housekeeper, Mrs Cotton. Whilst the widowed master slips slowly into madness, Mrs Cotton gradually usurps the position of gentlewoman of the house. She wears his dead wife's jewellery and clothes, entertains guests as though the house is her own and reserves her most despotic treatment for Abi. In the dead of night, Abi makes a desperate bid for freedom, but is soon captured and returned to Greave Hall. As Mrs Cotton's malice intensifies, a ghostly presence distracts Abi with clues to a deadly secret. And Abi now realises that she can trust no one in the house.
REVIEW:
Historical fiction is a tricky type of tale to bring to the adult audience let alone the Young Adult market. Yet that’s exactly what Michael Ford has done with this offering that is almost Dickensian in its telling. The plot is very well designed, the characters vivid and you can’t help but route for the lead character to struggle through the events in which she finds herself. Add to this a very stark take on dialogue that works well for the time period backed up with solid description and it’s a tale that will stay with you.
BOOK BLURB:
The teenage world of Jess Jordon is looking characteristically chaotic: Mum has joined an online dating programme and has recruited Jess as advisor, while Jess' best friend Flora has a rich new boyfriend who Jess can't possibly keep up with. Then Jess' own boyfriend, Fred, does something unbelievably treacherous and spineless. Jess is becoming completely fed up with the male sex, and is beginning to think that the only reliable form of male is e-mail ...Never mind, there's Valentine's Day to look forward to. Fred is sure to make amends then. Isn't he? Full of Sue Limb's very funny take on teenage life and problems, fans of Girl, 15 will be thrilled to have available a new Fred and Jess story. It's only when you've stopped laughing that you realise that, in addition to writing with wit and warmth, Sue Limb has also dealt effortlessly with bigger and important themes of friendship and loyalty.
REVIEW:
To be honest this is a tale in an already established series and one that unfortunately I didn’t really get into. The characters were clunky (although this could be due to their multiple appearances) there was no real character growth and above all else it seemed a little bit too far fetched to be set in the real world. It’s a great shame as I really hoped that this would have done more as well as endearing and aiding the younger reader of this offering with the ways to help deal with life’s little struggles. A great shame in all.
BOOK BLURB:
At night, when we are feeling tired and ready for bed, owls are just waking up. But this curious little owl decides to stay awake all day, instead of all night, and discovers a world bursting with colour! But when the night-time comes around again, the stars above her head are still the most beautiful of all.
REVIEW:
If you want a Young Children’s author that will give the reader some cracking art, a good story and above all else easy to remember verses then you really can’t ignore Tim Hopgood. Add to this helpful exercises to allow your children’s knowledge to grow and it’s a book that will definitely entertain the reader. In this case to such an extent it was Wow said the reviewer. LOL
BOOK BLURB:
Teenager Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is renowned. But his whole world is suddenly turned upside down on the night his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters - immortal vampire-slayers who risk everything to save humanity - and he quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one that's filled with all kinds of evil. However, before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students start turning into flesh-eating members of the undead. Nick knows he's in real danger and he soon has a lot more to deal with than starting high school: he's under pressure to hide his new friends from his mother and his chainsaw from the principal while trying to impress the girl he has a crush on ? all without getting grounded, suspended...or killed.
REVIEW:
Having come across Nick in Sherrilyn’s Dark Hunter series I was pretty amazed when it was announced that it would be a young adult series rather than an adult. What happens within contains all the hallmarks of Sherrilyn’s writing style. You have a great principle protagonist, you have great dialogue and above all a great sense of self about the hero of the piece. He’s fully rounded, he has hopes, he has fears and above all else he has a voice that will speak to the generation to which the title is aimed.
It’s a wonderful piece of writing and whilst I was beginning to feel that Sherrilyn was coming to the end of her adult writing career, I do feel that she has a real future for the YA market. A great offering and I really can’t wait for the next novel in the series.
BOOK BLURB:
When a family-load of boisterous, bumbling dragons burst into peaceful Poppledown Town, there's sure to be trouble! Before long, the whole town is thrown into chaos. The local market is turned upside down, the library is louder than ever and the local playgroup has never experienced such disruptive pupils! Will Poppledown Town EVER be the same again?
REVIEW:
A title that is not just amusing but a prelude to some cracking storytelling. Beautifully written with some fun artwork it’s a story that all adults will love to tell to children with its repetitive refrain that they’ll soon pick up on. A great offering and one that will become a firm favourite for many which I hope will allow it to become a children’s classic in such a way that it deserves.
BOOK BLURB:
What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours? 17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross ...only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart. Some angels are destined to fall...
REVIEW:
Whilst this theme seems to be replacing Vampires in young adult fiction, the author really has to do something special to keep the audience glued. That said this offering is one that has had a lot of press, a lot of hype and a fair few reasonable reviews from people that I tend to trust. So feeling a tad more confident about this title I finally bit the bullet and decided to give it a go
What unfurled however was sadly disappointing, the plot was slow, the “sexy” aspect pretty tame and it really didn’t put any fear into me as it wound its way to its conclusion. It did have potential, it did have some interesting characters however the ones that spoke to me had fleeting parts to play and the author really let themselves down with substandard two dimensional principle protagonists. A sad shame in my opinion but at the end of the day these things sometimes happen.
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. But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no-one knows exists. Its purpose - to prevent time travel destroying history ...When Maddy mistakenly opens a time window where and when she shouldn't have, Liam is marooned sixty-five million years ago in the hunting ground of a deadly - and until now - undiscovered species of predator. Can Liam make contact with Maddy and Sal before he's torn to pieces by dinosaurs - and without endangering history so much that the world is overtaken by a terrifying new reality?
REVIEW:
Alex Scarrow is a master of the what if scenario and whilst this title is definitely aimed at the Young adult market its one that will enthuse as well as capture many an adult reader as well. It’s got a great premise, the principle characters stand out and above all else Alex makes it so that the reader really cares for the characters within. This title has been a real breath of fresh air and is definitely one I’m lending to other friends who not only enjoy the What if Scenario but a great sense of story telling style. This author deserves to be noticed. I really can’t wait for the third.
BOOK BLURB:
Simeon Dark is the most powerful sorcerer in the land of the Drift. Mysterious, cunning, a shape-shifter, only he can stop the evil Strood and save the Drift from dying. But where is he? Nin finds her way to Dark's mansion - a strange castle with a garden and lake spilling into the sky. There she finds a ribbon of shadowy light: could this be the unsaid spell and the clue to unlocking the mystery of Simeon Dark? Meanwhile, Strood is preparing his distillation machine, his pet tigers and some barrels of blood and is coming after her...Caro King has created a funny, rich, thrilling adventure, interwoven with fantastical creatures, myth and magic.
REVIEW:
To be totally honest I really wasn’t that enamoured by this title. I found the writing a bit clunky, the characters two dimensional and an overall plot that was pretty predictable from start to finish. That said this is the second title in the series and having missed out on the original I may be a overally critical of this offering as most of the growth work was probably accomplished on the original. If you enjoyed the first you may enjoy the second but for new readers I’d really advise either giving this one a miss or ordering it from your local library is you have to read it.
BOOK BLURB:
Sophie and Josh have returned to San Francisco. They must protect themselves from the Dark Elders, but they've not yet mastered the magic they'll need to do so. Their trust in Nicholas Flamel is shaken, and their friend Scatty is missing. Unbeknownst to the twins, John Dee has amassed an enormous army of foul creatures, with which he plans to battle Nicholas and his wife, Peronelle. In order for his plan to work, he must train a necromancer to raise the Mother of the Gods from the dead. The twins of legend will make the perfect pupils in his diabolical scheme.
REVIEW:
OK, I am a newbie to the series, I have not read any of the other titles in this series and to be honest here, I was quite lost when I began. So a quick break was taken and thanks to Wiki, I was brought up to speed on the novels to date and thus knew where I was and able to carry on.
The series is definitely pretty epic for the Young Adult market, its definitely got a whole host of interesting characters and each one stands out presenting the reader with something new and unique to the overall story arc. The reader won’t know which way to turn as events overtake the principle characters as they discover facts that have been withheld as well as testing the boundaries of old friends and new. It is captivating, it is gripping and above all else, and it is a tale that was incredibly hard to put down once I knew what was happening. Definitely one of our tips for the Summer months and we’d even go so far as to suggest getting the series from the first offering to keep your Young Reader happy.
BOOK BLURB:
Nikki is finally starting to adjust to life at her new school and things are looking up. She's made some real friends and her major crush, Brandon, even asks her to be his lab partner in science, Hello! Seriously awesome development! But when Nikki overhears mean girl Mackenzie bragging that Brandon's going to take her to the Halloween dance, a bummed Nikki agrees to spend Halloween at a kids' party for her little sister Brianna. It's only after she makes the commitment that she finds out Mackenzie was lying and that her dream of going to the party with Brandon could be a reality. Now she's got two parties to juggle, what's a girl to do?
REVIEW:
OK, I couldn’t get into the first but as I was at a loose end I thought what the hell and gave this title a go. Its well written, the character seemed more realistic this time round and with the double dealing of the American High School system that many readers are coming to enjoy built in, made this a title that really was a bit of a laugh. It was quirky, it was fun but it was the protagonista’s sense of paranoia that really made this offering worth the time and effort. Definitely something fun and I suspect the new Adrian Mole for Generation X.
BOOK BLURB:
