Om Shanti, Babe review

Title: Om Shanti, Babe

 

Author: Helen Limon

Release date: 6^th September 2012

 

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Cassia can't wait for her first visit to India - Bollywood glamour, new friends to admire her uber-cool street-dance moves….

 

But as she steps into real Indian life, NOTHING is as she expected...

Cass is with her mum in Kerala, on a buying trip for their Fair Trade craft shop, and everything seems to be going wrong. There's Mum's new romance with "call-me-V" Mr Chaudury for a start, her own prickly stand-off with pretty, fashion-mad Priyanka, and the devastating news that her mum's business may be on the rocks. But then pop idol Jonny Gold arrives at the beach to promote his new song, Om Shanti Babe, sparking a mystery, new friendships and a race to save the mangrove swamps...

Fizzing with energy, and laugh-out-loud funny, this is a roller-coaster journey of discovery, which also has an exciting environmental twist - all against the backdrop of beautiful Kerala. 

Cass and her mum, Loopy Lu, go to India to get resources for their Fair Trade craft shop. While there they find out something worrying about the beautiful Kerala beach which is under attack from developers. Can Cass and her new found friends do anything to help?

I really enjoyed this book as every sentence is jam-packed full of detail and events. Each chapter reveals something new about one of the characters and develops the plot with exciting twists and turns.

Cassie starts off the novel as a selfish character who has fallen out with her friends back home and hopes to find solace in India. Things there are far from simple as Cass struggles to win over her the girl she is sharing a room with and her mum only has eyes for ‘Call me V’!  

However, as the novel develops, so does Cassia’s character and I think that’s what made this novel so pleasurable – Cassia develops along with the plot. The elaborate descriptions and fabulous friendships that Cass makes allowed me to become engrossed in the novel and gave it a feel-good quality.

The Indian culture and its spirituality is explored in great depth. Cassia asks the Tiger Goddess for help with her problems and even the title of the book suggests a message to the reader. ‘Om is the sound of the universe and Shanti means peace. It can be said as a way of wishing well to someone you care about’ (p.163). It felt like the novel offered moral and ethical messages to the reader throughout but in a really peaceful way rather than a patronising way.

I would definitely recommend this novel as it is so well written. Helen Limon beautifully captures the Indian atmosphere and the novel is quite a moralistic tale, celebrating the different qualities of the characters as well as the amazing natural landscape. Within the pages of the book, Limon interweaved a brilliant plot with inventive characters and meaningful messages about society and the environment. A must read for anyone who wants to enjoy something light and fun.

4.5/5 A really lovely, beautiful tale.

 With special thanks to Frances Lincoln for sending me a copy of the book.

Marco Moonwalker Review

The nights are getting darker, the hot chocolates are made and the comfy slippers are on... so let me share a silly little story with you about a dancing bear.

Title: Marco Moonwalker

Author: Gerry Boland

Release Date: 27^th August 2012

Publisher: O’Brien Press Ltd

 

Marco – an even more

Remarkable Grizzly Bear

After escaping from the zoo and coming to live with Patrick and his mum, Marco proves to have many talents. Now Patrick discovers that Marco is also a musical genius – he can play the trombone, banjo and even dance like Michael Jackson! ‘Let’s start a band’, Patrick says, and Marco becomes a STAR. Then disaster strikes. He is spotted without his mask and brought back to the zoo. How will Patrick and Mum get him out again?

Marco is a musically talented grizzly bear. However, when someone discovers that he is the mystery third member of the 3Ms, Marco is hastily returned to the zoo. Luckily, Patrick’s mum has a great idea to make sure he doesn’t have to stay...

This delightful little tale is perfect to share with someone younger on a cold winter night. It is the perfect length to keep little minds interested with enough humour to entertain any adult.  The illustrations are brilliant and Marco is a captivating character. Filled with scheming and daft ideas, this book will make people of all ages laugh out loud.

 

5/5 A funny tale with fab illustrations.

 

With special thanks to O'Brien for sending me a copy of the book.

THE TRUE TALE OF THE MONSTER Billy DEAN Review

Title: THE TRUE TALE OF THE MONSTER Billy DEAN telt by hisself

Author: David Almond

Release Date: 5^th July 2012

Publisher: Penguin

 

I WOS A SECRIT SHY AND TUNGTIED EMPTY HEDED THING.

 

I WAS TORT TO READ and rite and spell by my Tenda little Muther & by MR McCaufrey the butcha & by MISSUS MALONE AND HER GOSTS. SO I AM NOT CLEVA, SO PLEASE FORGIV MY FOLTS AND MY MISTAYKS.

 

 

I AM THE WON that GLARES INTO YOUR HARTS & THAT PROWLS INSYDE YOR DEEPIST DREMES.

 

WONCE I WAS THE ANJEL CHILDE.

NOW I AM THE MONSTER.

JUST READ AND LISSEN AND TAKE NOTE.

LET the words enter yor BLUD & BOANS.

 

I AM BILLY DEAN.

THIS IS THE TRUTH.

THIS IS MY TALE.

 

The amazing and astounding Billy Dean, brought up in a small room in the town of Blinkbonny by his aggressive father and his meek mother is finally introduced into the world in this unusual account.

This book was recommended to me by a friend and although it didn’t appear something I would enjoy, I thought I would give it a go. How I wish I hadn’t! While I understand the beauty within a novel such as this one and I don’t doubt that many readers will find it profound and intriguing, I did not. Some readers might enjoy reading about the dissection of a dead mouse or the neglect of a small boy but I am not one of those people. Although I prefer a good laugh out loud novel, I appreciate and have been known to enjoy a few thrillers and tear-jerkers but maybe my tiny little brain couldn’t comprehend the enormity of the message within the novel as I just ‘didn’t get it’.  
 

Written from the point of view of Billy, the narrative followed his train of thought and many words were spelt phonetically. I found this surprisingly easy to follow and it definitely created Billy’s character. There are some brilliant characters in the book and my favourite one was Missus Malone who seemed a cross between a pantomime baddie and a pantomime dame, melodramatic and over the top but with a tragic story of her own.

The plot lifted off about a third of the way in but up until that point, the limits of Billy’s surroundings meant that the reader was offered the strange musings in his head rather than much story. When Billy does venture into the outside world, his description of the landscape was poetic and I enjoyed this much more than his troubled thoughts. However, this didn’t lift the mood of the book enough and I felt it was all just a bit slow and strange.

I decided to persevere with the novel as it had been recommended but I must admit, I felt I was wading through mud at times. There isn’t a proper climax at the end of the novel, more of a collection of events that happen. Having read other reviews of this book, there are a variety of responses so I wouldn’t dissuade people from reading this book but it really wasn’t my cup of tea.

2.5/5 I hated it but you might not.

The Traitors Review

Title: The Traitors

Author: Tom Becker

Release Date: 5^th April 2012

Publisher: Scholastic

Dear Adam Wilson,

Agents from the Dial are on their way to collect you. Make your farewells now, as you will not be seeing anyone you care about for a long time. Such are the consequences of treachery.

If you feel you are being unjustly treated, show someone this letter – a family member, perhaps, or a figure of authority. Tell them that you are innocent, and that you deserve their assistance.

But you won’t tell anyone, will you? You’re too guilty and ashamed. We know it and we’re coming for you.

Regards,

Mr Cooper

(CHIEF WARDER, THE DIAL)

Adam hears voices through the radio and receives a strange letter calling him ‘traitor’. But who are they and what exactly are they accusing him of? When they come for him and take him to the mysterious Dial, Adam struggles to believe what is happening. His life on the Dial is challenging and surreal, can he ever escape?

I didn’t know what to expect from this novel as the books in Tom Becker’s Darkside series were brilliant (if you haven’t read them already I definitely suggest giving them a go – they are pure genius!).  While the colourful array of characters with occasional unusual names didn’t disappoint, I felt that the imagination of the Dial was let down by the plot.

The Dial itself is a prison and Becker provides blueprints on the introductory pages which assist in creating the bigger picture of the novel. However, unlike with many novels which offer an illustration of the world which has been created, I found that I didn’t need to keep referring to the map to visualise the Dial, such is the skill of Becker’s description.  

The characters were believable and I really felt for Jessica and Adam, despite the fact that they are traitors. My favourite character had to be the Commandant as I found him really intriguing and he offered something unusual at the end of the tale.  Although I don’t think that this book will ever stop people from betraying one another (I don’t think that Becker intended it to do this either), I did find that it made me think about the consequences of betrayal - not that I’m concerned about being sent to the Dial or anything  :/

Becker’s Dial was an imaginative idea and the characters were multi-dimensional and interesting. I just felt that the narrative didn’t support the world Becker had created for it. Whereas the Darkside series utilised a brilliant world with a fantastic plot and colourful characters, The Traitors didn’t quite bring all the elements together as successfully as I expected from Becker.

3.5/5 Maybe too much imagination for the limits of the novel.

When I was Joe Review

With the release of Another Life on 6^th September I wanted to read When I was Joe which has been on my ‘to read’ list since its release! When I was Joe won the Lancashire Book of the Year award in 2011 and I am pleased to say, it did not disappoint!

Title: When I was Joe

Author: Keren David

Release date: 7^th January 2010

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

It’s one thing watching someone get killed. It’s quite another talking about it.

But Ty does talk about it. He names some ruthless people and a petrol-bomb attack forces him and his mum into hiding under police protection.

Shy loser Ty gets a new name, a new look and a cool new image. Life as Joe is good. But the gangsters will stop at nothing to silence him. And then he meets a girl with a dangerous secret of her own.

Ty has witnessed something awful. When he tells the police, things only becomes more horrific as he and his mum have to go into witness protection after his life is threatened. Becoming Joe is strange and Ty’s mum is struggling to deal with their new life. But Ty finds he quite likes being popular Joe.

However, how long can Ty’s perfect life as Joe last when he can’t control his temper and how long will it be before the gangsters track him down?

I really really enjoyed this book. It offers comedy in the form of Ty’s humour and his mum’s young behaviour (I literally laughed out loud when she texted him with ‘wtf’). However, the book has a very serious back bone and I became emotionally involved with Ty and his ‘friend’ Claire. What Ty and his mum go through is truly awful. Not only are they constantly surrounded by the threat of violence from those Ty has accused but their everyday world is turned upside down too.

 Ty’s mum is studying for a degree with the Open University and doesn’t know if her credits can be transferred now that she has a new name. I know how hard my mum is working for her own Open University degree and something as simple as this revealed a new sense of the day to day difficulties of becoming someone else.  It was these little details that made the story totally believable and immersed me in the narrative.

Ty/Joe is a brilliant character. He attempts to withdraw himself emotionally from what is happening but finds that his emotions vent themselves in other ways. Keren David has created a character with lots of depth and I actually felt like I was delving into the mind of a teenage boy.

The reader is drip fed details of the crime that Ty witnessed and this made me want to continue reading to find out what had happened. Throughout the book I came to different conclusions as to what had happened and all were wrong! David’s withholding of information also offers different dimensions to Ty’s character as it is gradually revealed the extent of Ty’s involvement in the crime.

I’ve ordered a copy of Almost True (the second book in this series) from my local library and the first chapter was included at the back of this book but I didn’t want to get hooked before my copy came! An absolutely fantastic book, suitable for anyone who likes brilliant YA literature.

5/5 Give it a go if you haven’t already!

The Vampire Blog Review

Title: The Vampire Blog

Author: Pete Johnson

Release Date: 27^th May 2012

Publisher: Corgi Yearling (Random House Children’s Books)

So you think you’re just a normal kid? So did I. There was nothing strange or special about me... until the night of my thirteenth birthday.

That’s when the bombshell hits. My parents have been hiding a huge, terrifying, life-changing secret from me my whole life. They’re half vampires - and it turns out I’m about to become one too. What. A. Nightmare.

Suddenly everything’s changing. I’m growing fangs and getting cravings for my best friend’s blood. I even smell weird... life totally sucks! But that’s not all. Vampires exist too – and there’s nothing more delicious to a vampire than half-vampire blood. Things are about to get extremely dangerous... 

Marcus’ parents have just told him he is a half-vampire. Which is if course a joke... isn’t it? Marcus has to deal with his annoying cousin Karl as well as all the new cravings he experiences. His parents have even given him a new half-vampire name! This tale follows Marcus on his journey to become a half-vampire - will he make the change or is he determined to fight his natural instincts and remain a mere mortal?

After reading the blurb I thought this book would be similar to The Radleys by Matt Haig (http://lilypadlibraryuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/radleys-review.html). However, I would suggest that this book is for younger teens as it was less sophisticated than The Radleys, although it was by no means less hilarious! Unlike The Radleys, which was a black comedy, this book deals with vampirism in a light hearted way with Marcus struggling to accept that he is a half vampire who has suddenly started craving blood.

At the start of the book I struggled to sympathise with Marcus’ character as he is so sarcastic! However, compared to his unsympathetic parents and cousin who don’t seem to understand why he has an issue with becoming a creature of the night, I began to like Marcus. The conclusion of this book is brilliant and it shows a different side to Marcus and his friend Tallulah which allowed me to get excited about the second book in this series.

I’m not sure that the blog format of this book was written successfully. Marcus himself says that no one can ever read it and although it allows the book to be written in first person, from Marcus’ point of view, I felt that this format wasn’t really necessary. However, the blog format did allow Marcus to interrupt his own writing and reflect on things that have happened to him previously which was an interesting approach to Marcus’ emotional development as a character.

I am looking forward to the second book in this series as I want to know more about Pete Johnson’s thoughts on the characteristics of vampires and how Marcus manages to deal with this. Johnson reveals a twist at the end of the story which was really unexpected and means the book is definitely worth reading to the end.  This tale offers humour, sarcasm and a touch of romance as well as an interesting take on what it means to be a vampire!

3.5/5 Deals with the difficulties of being a teenage vampire.

The demon notebook review

Title: The demon notebook

Author: Erika McGann

Release Date:  3^rd September 2012

Publisher: O’Brien Press

Grace and her four best friends, Jenny, Rachel, Adie and Una, are failed witches – and they have a notebook full of useless spells to prove it.

But one night, they stumble upon real magical powers – and their notebook takes on a diabolical life of its own.

The girls watch, helpless, as, one by one, their spells start to work, moving relentlessly towards the worst one of all ...

Can Grace and her friends stem the wave of powerful magic ... before tragedy strikes?

When Grace and her friends decide to perform a Ouija board at school during a full moon, they are convinced that nothing will come of it as all of their previous attempts at casting spells have been a waste of time. However, when the spells the girls have cast begin to work, the friends realise that they may have finally unleashed power... but at what cost? Una is behaving strangely and it is only a matter of time before the spells get out of hand and what started as a joke could be potentially life threatening.

I really enjoyed this book, with its mix of strong characters and pure friendships. The girls cast spells for many silly things and when they begin to work it causes many difficulties for them as well as lots of fun. However, the fear they feel about the last spell working was brilliantly captured in the urgency of the writing (read the book to find out what the spell was for!). The four friends repeatedly attempt to save Una from whatever has possessed her as well as trying to save their fellow class mates from the spells. What made the book so compelling was the girls’ love for one another and their ‘in it together’ attitude. Starting out as a laugh, the girls still manage to stick together through their battle to save the town, with the addition of Mrs Quinlan and Ms Lemon.

My favourite character has to be Mrs Quinlan. With her house full of cats and her no-nonsense attitude towards the girls, I felt she was a really strong character and was introduced in such a way as to make her loveable, despite her aggressive and at times, scary behaviour.  I liked how she was so instrumental in helping the girls and it was interesting to see how her past is revealed.

Overall, this book is a fun read and the characters are easily relatable to. The plot offers plenty of twists and there are many laughs (often at the expense of the characters).  I particularly loved the last chapter as it offered Grace a happy ending and made me smile! The illustrations on the inside of the cover pages were a lovely addition to the book and the chapter titles often made me laugh out loud!

5/5 A feel good supernatural read.

With special thanks to O’Brien Press for sending me a copy of the book.

Brothers to the Death Review

Title: Brothers to the Death (The Saga
            of Larten Crepsley Book 4)

Author: Darren Shan

Release Date: 26^th April 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s
                      Books

Just as Larten is finding a new place for himself in vampire society, horrifying tragedy falls on his own family, thanks to the nefarious Vampaneze.

But there are more evil things than just the Vampaneze stirring. And soon, Larten might find himself grieving again – as he faces the worst and final betrayal...

The vampire, Larten Crepsley enjoys life. While he cannot have a full relationship with the human Alicia, this does not stop his affection for her. However, as with much of the vampire’s life, his love for another can only lead to drastic consequences. While the Nazis take hold of Germany, Larten has his own trauma to deal with that will lead him on a crusade against the Vampaneze and reveal a treachery close to home that will shatter everything he believes in.

It took a while for me to really enjoy and appreciate this book. Larten’s long life and the time span of the novel meant that often the narrative jumps several years between chapters.  Unlike the style of the Darren Shan and Demonata series, I occasionally felt too much time had been missed. Although, as the story progresses, the pace captures a sense of how Larten experiences time as a vampire.

Towards the end, the novel introduces some of the cast of Cirque du Freak such as Madam Octa and Truska. It also explores the past of some of the key characters from the Saga of Darren Shan which give added depths to the Saga (which was an AWESOME series).

The treachery Larten faces leaves him devastated and rocks the foundations of the first three books in this series. It is sad and shocking when someone he is so close to betrays him and the consequences for both characters are tragic and irreversible. That’s as much as I’m willing to reveal!

Overall, I felt really disappointed this series has ended, although it wasn’t my favourite Darren Shan series. Written as a prequel leading onto Cirque du Freak it made me want to re-read all of the Saga of Darren Shan. A must read for any Shan-fan who wants to know more about the infamous Larten Crepsley.

4.5/5 Shan strikes again with an epic read.

Can I just take this opportunity to moan about the film, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant and also the new design book covers for the Saga of Darren Shan.  The film tried to collate too many details of the books into one film and also changed too much which I can only hope was also a disappointment to Shan-fans. As for the covers, the original covers were much more dark and sophisticated and made interesting use of colour against a black background.

Old and New Covers for the Saga of Darren Shan (Books 1, 2 and 3)

Darren Shan at the Grand

Darren Shan is doing a book signing at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. He will also be reading excerpts from his new book Zom-B.

Wednesday 3rd October 2012 at 1pm.


Wish I could be there.


Should be AWESOME!!!

 

 

http://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/shows/performance/zom-b

Malkin Child Review

Title: Malkin Child

Author: Livi Michael

Release Date:18^th August 2012

Publisher: Foxtail Publishing

Jennet’s family all believe they are witches. Other folk think they are, too. But 1612 is a dangerous time to be a witch. When her family are imprisoned and put on trial in Lancaster Castle, Jennet’s evidence will help decide their fate.

Commissioned by Lancashire County Council to commemorate the trial of the Pendle Witches’ in 1612, this book captures the innocence of a young child. Jennet Device was a young child when her family were arrested under suspicion of witch craft. Convinced, along with the rest of the townsfolk, that her family are witches, she admitted her beliefs when questioned by Justice of the Peace, Roger Nowell. Jennet’s testimony resulted in the conviction and subsequent death of the ‘Pendle Witches’.

Steeped in the history surrounding my local area, there aren’t many Lancashire folk who don’t know the tale of the Pendle Witches. But this novel allows Jennet’s side of the story to be explored -  Jennet interrupts the narrative within the first chapter of this book to tell her version of events and how she was manipulated into contributing to the guilty sentence that was passed on those who met at Malkin Tower in 1612.

The style of the novel is deliberately simplistic, to reveal the mind of the young girl. Each of Jennet’s little tales are titled and explore her life before the trials as well as immediately afterwards. The chunking of the paragraphs together with the colloquialisms and a young girl’s vocabulary make the book easy to read and persuasively child like. Jennet’s confusion and emotional conflict are portrayed convincingly and to the point, showing her immediate reactions to the arrest of her family and how she felt as an outcast, with no magical powers. Dealing with issues of identity and family, as many teenage novels do, but in a historical setting and addressing a familiar story from a different viewpoint, the narrative is captivating and engaging.

As a crossover (aimed at both children and adults), the novel won’t be everyone’s cup of tea as it could appear unsophisticated. However, I found the style of the book unique, inspired by the real tale of Jennet and her family and utilising Jennet’s innocence to develop the style of the book. I would suggest that you don’t need to know the tale of the Pendle Witches to understand the tale, but it would aid in your interpretation of Jennet’s character and the events of her life. It was interesting for me to read about my local area 400 years ago and anyone with an interest in the Pendle Witches should find this an intriguing read.

4/5 Effectively brings to life a 400 year old character and her tale.

Million Dollar Gift Review

Title: Million Dollar Gift

Author: Ian Somers

Release Date: 7^th May 2012

Publisher: O’Brien Press Ltd

Ross Bentley has a gift - he can move things with his mind.

Ross has always known he was different, but he’s kept his talent secret, even from those closest to him. Everything changes when he hears about a contest called The Million Dollar Gift – a wealthy businessman has pledged a million dollars to anyone who can prove they have superhuman powers. It’s too good a chance to miss.

But Ross finds himself drawn ever deeper into a world of corruption and peril. His gift puts him in danger from powerful foes, but also introduces him to people and talents he can hardly believe exist...

Ross isn’t an average teenager. He has a special gift.... a gift that he thinks will help him win a million dollars. However, when Ross enters the competition searching for someone with ‘real’ superpowers, little does he know that he is putting himself and his loved ones in danger.

From the moment Ross enters the contest, things seem unusual. Going from his childhood home in Maybrook to the bright lights of London, on his own, Ross sees this as one big adventure. However, the tests Ross has to pass to prove his gift become more and more dangerous and strange.

Ross begins to get hounded by the press and a mysterious stranger attempts to warn him of the dangers of working for Golding. But Ross finds it difficult to escape. Will he ever be able to return to his old life in Maybrook?

This book is electric! While I felt it was a bit slow and steady at the beginning, once Ross hits London, the novel really hits the ground running throwing Ross from one dilemma to the next. Often, Ross isn’t the most sensible character and a lot of the trauma in his life is caused by his own carelessness.

Ian Somers has created brilliant characters and a captivating plot, set in a world where superhuman powers are a dangerous reality. In the style of an adventure novel, his writing will draw you in and keep you hooked.

The document inserts from Golding Scientific Security Division creates dramatic irony. Although the chapters written in first person from Ross’ point of view demonstrate his constant uncertainty and difficulty with trusting anyone.

An absolutely brilliant book, really easy to read and will keep you hooked. As a reader, I empathised with Ross and his friends. Read the book to find out what happens to Romand... who has to be my favourite character! The end of Million Dollar Gift leaves a lot of questions unanswered, introducing the Guild of the True (it’s ok.... I have no idea what that is either!) A must read for lovers of adventure, the supernatural, romance, crime and teen novels!

5/5 I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!!!!!!!

Many thanks to O’Brien Press Ltd for sending me a copy of the book.

A Waste of Good Paper Review

Title: A Waste of Good Paper

Author: Sean Taylor

Release Date: 3rd May 2012

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Friday

Pete says this is a writing book he's only giving me and it's PRIVATE and I can writge what I want...

Wednesday

Pete's an ALL RIGHT teacher. But it's a DUMB idea he's got about this book because the problem last year was what FATHEAD BARRY and the others were saying about my mum. And what happens if they start dissing her again?

Saturday

I'm writing this because of what's happened. And that is my mum's ex-boyfriend JON SHOWED UP. And BOTH his arms were BROKEN...

When Pete suggests Jason should start writing a journal, he thinks it is a stupid idea. However, when he begins to write, it seems he can’t stop. Using the journal allows Jason to articulate his feelings and gives him the opportunity to come to terms with the horrific events which have happened in his past. Far from being a sad read, this book is very humorous and optimistic about people’s ability to change.

I really didn’t know what to expect from this novel as the blurb doesn’t give much away but I found it really enjoyable. Jason goes to a school for children with behaviour difficulties because of his troubled past but after making progress, he is hoping to go to mainstream school next year. Written from Jason’s point of view in the form of a journal, the book makes for a brutally honest and genuinely funny read. Jason’s simplistic writing style make his feelings obvious and it was his frankness that urged me to continue reading, such as his views on FATHEAD BARRY and the others in his class which add to the hilarity of this book.

Jason’s detailed writing in the pages of his journal ranges from his everyday activities such as what he studied in class to his inner most thoughts on always being ALL RIGHT when Pete asks. The story becomes increasingly darker and as Jason writes more about the past, his circumstances become more frightening and dangerous, his mum’s ex-boyfriend shows up and trouble ensues. I felt genuinely scared for Jason as the terror he feels when confronted by Jon is well translated into the diary.  

While Jason’s life is far from pleasant and often upsetting, the novel offers a serious but fresh approach to children who have a difficult upbringing. Towards the end of the novel, Jason becomes more confident about his writing and it helps him rebuild his relationship with his mum. When he decides to let Pete read his journal, it seems to mark a new beginning for him, which is a hopeful ending for Jason and his mum.

Overall, this book was a really unexpected pleasure. Jason’s character is really easy to empathise with, offering depth to the story. There are a lot of unexpected twists to this book which build the suspense of the narrative and while it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I found Sean Taylor’s style refreshing and the book a really easy read.

5/5 for Jason’s character and honest writing style

With special thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books for sending me a copy of the book.

Forgotten Review

Title: Forgotten

Author: Cat Patrick

Release Date: 6^th June 2011

Publisher: Egmont Books

Here’s the thing about me: I can see the future in flashes, like memories. But my past is a blank.

I remember what I’ll wear tomorrow and an argument that won’t happen until this afternoon. But I don’t know what I ate for dinner last night. I get by with the help of notes, my mom and my best friend Jamie, and the system works…

Until now. Everything’s falling apart. Jamie’s going off the rails. My mom is lying to me. And I can’t see the boy I adore in my future.

But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much…

London can remember things that will happen in her future. The only problem is, she can’t remember what happened in her past. Writing notes to herself every night is the only way London can get through life. Can London change the future when she already knows what will happen? What is stopping her from remembering the past?

This story is written as a first person narrative so I began to empathise with the main character, London, straight away. She is a teenage girl suffering from some sort of amnesia but this doesn’t stop her being able to see what will happen in her future. London’s life is one up-hill struggle as she tries to function day to day, leaving notes for herself about what happened in the days previously.

She meets a charming boy, Luke, who she is instantly attracted to and they soon become an item. On their first date, however, they run into trouble when they fall asleep and London awakes to find herself in unfamiliar surroundings with a boy she can’t remember meeting before. I could really feel London’s confusion and frustration.

London and her best friend, Jamie, fall out when London learns something traumatic about Jamie’s future. Sometimes, London’s gift means she wants to interfere to stop people making bad decisions but usually this doesn’t end well. Although it does raise interesting questions about whether London can change the future.

There are, without a doubt, many surprises within this tale and all of them are unexpected. Without revealing too much, Luke may not be who he seems and London may remember more about the past than she knows. London begins to lie to herself in her notes and that only creates more problems for the future. Things London can remember from the future and the past have to be pieced together in order for her and the reader to understand what has happened.

My favourite character was Luke, who London is clearly besotted with. He tries to help London understand her past but is also there to help her have fun. It’s really interesting how London deals with meeting him anew everyday!

Cat Patrick has produced a brilliant, easy to read, page turner. London’s character is easily accessible and encourages you to read on. While her condition clearly causes problems for her, sometimes the outcomes are humorous and her special gift gives her an advantage at the end of the book. Although there are still many gaps in London’s past, the novel leaves the reader hopeful about her future, with a warm fuzzy feeling inside!

4/5 A really easy read with plenty of twists and turns.

Payback Review

Title: Payback

Author: Rosemary Hayes

Release Date: 18^th June 2009

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Halima has her whole life to look forward to. Brought up in a Pakistani village and now settled in London with her family, her horizions are widening all the time. She is starting university in London and she has met a Muslim boy she really likes.

And then she discover's her father's plan - to marry her to the son of a distant relation in Pakistan who once did him a favour. Halima is to be the repayment of a debt, and it's payback time.

Halima thinks she will never get the chance to travel to England but when her father decides to take the entire family back to the UK, she is overwhelmed. Although she has to learn to integrate into a new culture, Halima sees this as an opportunity to get a good education. She even finds herself falling for a boy, Mahmood, a Muslim boy so perfect that her parents can’t possibly object to them having a relationship.

However, everything starts to fall apart when Halima finds out her father has already arranged her marriage in Pakistan and there’s nothing she can do about it. Halima takes matters into her own hands with the support of her friend, Kate. But her family will not accept her decision and Halima finds herself in a difficult and dangerous situation.

This book is based on a true story and shows how arranged marriages can occur in the UK. Halima’s sister, Asma, has a happy arranged marriage and so the book is far from critical, exploring the different approaches to arranged marriages.

Halima’s family reveal the difficulties of turning your back on your culture. Halima’s brother suffers rejection from his family, Halima’s mother struggles to integrate into a culture completely different from her own and Halima realises she has other options.

I emotionally engaged with Halima all the way through the story because she is such a believable character struggling to deal with lots of difficult issues.  The majority of the book is written from Halima’s point of view although there are chapters which are written from the point of view of some of the other characters which gives the tale added depth. At times it is distressing because Halima suffers so much and towards the end of the book it is unclear what has happened to her.

Overall, the book deals with a real life story in a sensitive way as well as being engaging and exciting. I was so relieved that the book had a happy ending and felt that Halima and Mahmood deserved it! I really enjoyed the story as well as finding it important to my understanding of different cultures.

5/5 Brilliant story and culturally interesting!