Missing Ellen Review

Title: Missing Ellen

Author: Natasha Mac a’Bhaird

Release Date: 7^th October 2013

Publisher: O’Brien Press

‘sometimes it feels like I’m the one who’s missing. I’m like a ghost looking on at everything that’s happening and not really a part of it at all.’

Ellen and Maggie have been best friends for as long as they can remember – sharing clothes, passions and secrets. But now Ellen’s not there and Maggie’s left alone. Looking back over the events before Ellen’s disappearance, Maggie tries to make sense of her friend’s actions. At school and at home, she feels no one understands what she is going through – except maybe Liam, the boy next door who has always had feelings for Ellen.

Ellen has gone... can Maggie cope without her best friend?

This book is written with the past running alongside the present. Maggie's letters to Ellen explain what is happening after Ellen has left and the rest of the novel gives us an insight into what happened previous to this.

I really didn’t see this ending coming! Throughout the novel, Ellen is simply referred to as 'missing'. The title of the book offers two meanings, Ellen is missing (she is Missing Ellen) and Maggie is 'Missing Ellen'.

The novel also offers us the stories of two characters as well as that of past and present. We are shown the disastrous life of Ellen and her dysfunctional family, her fascination with boys and lack of interest in how her actions affect others. In complete contrast to this, there is Maggie, a young girl in no hurry to grow up, who just wants to enjoy herself at the local disco but who gets dragged into trouble by her best friend. Even with Ellen gone, Maggie struggles to deal with life without her friend, determined to be loyal to Ellen even if this challenges her own happiness.

I had a friend like Ellen when I was younger (in fact we are still friends now) and I know how Maggie feels about being treated second best to her friend's newest romance. However, despite always being treated this way, Maggie feels compelled to support her friend and this is why what happens to Ellen is so distressing for her, she feels that she should have supported her friend better, maybe even 'seen it coming'. Maggie's character is really likeable and at the beginning of the novel, so is Ellen's, as they are both teenage girls having a good time. However, Ellen's erratic behaviour and apparent disregard for her friend's feelings meant that she simply became more irritating as the book went on. This didn't mean I felt any less upset at the end (you really need to read the book to find out what happens), as I had sympathised with Maggie throughout and so felt her pain (yes, there were tears!).

While I don't feel like the novel preached, it does contain a lot of lessons in common sense. It deals with families, friends, alcohol, relationships, school and growing up in a really serious way. Allowing Maggie to tell her story instead of Ellen adds another layer to the tale, allowing readers to see how she feels.

I think that different readers will all take something different from this novel, as I said, I had a friend like this in high school and so understood Maggie's point of view. But those who behave/d more like Ellen in their youth might sympathise more with her character and feel lucky that their story didn't end like hers.

5/5 Emotionally compelling and haunting, right to the end.

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

Hysteria Review

Title: Hysteria

Author: Megan Miranda

Release Date: 14^th February 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

YOU WANTED HIM.

YOU NEEDED HIM.

YOU KILLED HIM.

LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT.

FEAR CAN TAKE YOU TO THE VERY EDGE.

Mallory’s old life is dead. Her boyfriend is gone; his blood washed from the kitchen tiles. Still it stains her mind. She can’t ever go back.

Monroe Prep School is her new start. But everyone thinks they know what happened that night. They think they know her. They don’t.

SECRETS ARE DEADLY.

SECRETS ARE THE ONLY REAL CURRENCY.

Mallory killed Brian. But things didn’t end there. Not only is Mallory tormented by Brian’s mother but she can’t get Brian to leave her alone either. Mallory’s parents are unsupportive when it comes to dealing with Brian’s death and how it has affected her mentally. They think that sending her off to Monroe Prep School will change things but Mallory finds that she can’t escape her demons. If anything, they have followed her there and are nearer than ever to dragging her down. Will she ever be free of the ghosts of the past?

Hysteria had a very ‘Point horror-esque’ feel to it. Mallory is haunted by the boy she killed who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend. She is tormented by Brian’s family and the girls at school; even those who pretend to be her friends have ulterior motives.

The setting of the boarding school creates the perfect atmosphere for the eerie content of the novel. The descriptions of the bedrooms, corridors and woods that surround the school all captured my imagination and created a dense space that the characters filled (the descriptions of Mallory’s kitchen also creates an intense sense of space). However, I felt that when Mallory leaves the school and stays with her mother in a hotel, this sense of claustrophobia was lost and took away from the haunting sense of the book.

Mallory’s characterisation was convincing, the first person narrative means that her fear is passed onto the reader directly. The flashbacks are really interesting and as each one occurs, the events of Brian’s death are untangled for the reader and reveal more about Mallory’s character and the truth about what happened, although we later find out that even Mallory’s account can’t be entirely trusted.

I did enjoy this book but felt a little like the ending was rushed. The entire book builds fear and terror throughout but then everything comes to a head and is resolved within the last few pages and as I mentioned previously, when Mallory leaves the school, the tension in the book almost disappears. I felt like the ending deserved more time than this as what happens was actually quite interesting!  

3.5/5 Overall the book is worth a read for some atmospheric moments but the ending might disappoint those who like a proper resolution.

Between the Lines Review

Title: Between the Lines

Author: Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Release Date: 20^th June 2013

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Delilah knows it’s weird, but she can’t stop reading her favourite fairytale. Other girls her age are dating and cheerleading. But then, other girls are popular.

Delilah loves the comfort of a happy ending, and knowing there will be no surprises.

Until she gets the biggest surprise of all, when Prince Oliver looks out from the page and speaks to her.

Now Delilah must decide: will she do as Oliver asks, and help him to break out of the book? Or is this her chance to escape into happily ever after?

Oliver has always played the fairytale prince, just as the author wrote him. But what happens when Oliver doesn’t want to be stuck in the fairytale anymore?

When Oliver meets a reader, Delilah, the first person who has ever been able to hear him, his dream seems closer than ever. But even with Delilah’s help, how can he leave the story? Will he ever get a real happily ever after?

This book was absolutely fantastic! I am a bit of a fairytale fanatic (my dissertation focused on adaptations of Little Red Riding Hood) and this book was so fun and easy to read. It has the same sort of feel to it as Inkheart by Cornelia Funke with book characters that come alive although it is written in a much simpler style and has a teenage romance element. Inkheart has a much more detailed story whereas Between the Lines is more about the character’s emotions rather than a really complex plot. There are three stories; Between the Lines, a fairytale written by Jessamyn Jacobs, the first person narrative from Delilah (a girl in the ‘real world’) and a first person narrative written by Oliver (the fairytale prince from Jessamyn’s Between the Lines).  Although this might sound slightly confusing, the chapters are titled so that the reader is aware of which story we are in and each tale has its own font. Not only does this give each writer their own character but it makes the book look impressive and really interesting. Each narrative is brilliantly constructed to create the individual characters. Delilah’s tale offers us a teenager in turmoil, she is head over heels in love with someone she can’t even touch. Oliver’s story offers an unusual twist to the normal fairytale, showing the reader what happens when the story isn’t being read and how the characters feel about playing their roles as they were written by the author. Both stories are enchanting and delightful.

 In her acknowledgments at the end of the book, Jodi Picoult talks about the e-book generation and how she ‘wanted to create a story that was a keepsake – one you’d pass down to your children because of its beauty and design [...] we wanted a novel that took one’s breath away’. That is exactly what has been created. The brilliant content of the book is mirrored in the fonts, gorgeous illustrations and wonderfully detailed silhouettes that are used throughout the novel.  I have mentioned before about my love of illustrations in young adult books and Between the Lines really captured my imagination because of the beauty of the pages. It is a perfect example of how the physical page can add so much more to a novel than a digital one.

I thought that the characters of Delilah and Oliver were really well created and believable, I know what it is like to fall in love with your favourite book and Delilah’s story fantastically captured her emotional attachment to the written word.  An interesting point was raised when Delilah’s Mum disapproves of her reading the fairytale as she is a teenager but then encourages her to snuggle up and watch a Disney DVD. Why is it that people associate written fairytales with children?!?! Anyone can enjoy them and should enjoy them and I hope that as many people as possible, adults, children and teenagers alike, read and enjoy this story, just as I have.

5/5 A beautiful fairytale

Another Life Review

Title : Another Life

Author: Keren David

Release Date: 6th September 2012

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Kicked out of yet another boarding school, Archie couldn’t be happier to find himself back in London with old friends and an exciting social life. But he’s worried about his cousin Ty, who is facing a sentence in a Young Offender Institution and doesn’t seem to be coping. When he begins to learn surprising things about Ty, Archie goes on a mission to discover the truth about his cousin’s part. But who is the real Ty?

Ty is still struggling to fit in anywhere and after being charged with carrying a knife and being sent to a young offender's institute, things seem to go from bad to worse. Can Ty’s cousin Archie help or will he make things worse? What will Archie find out about Ty? Can Ty and his family ever escape from those trying to hurt him?

I was really looking forward to reading ‘Another Life’ as the other two novels in Keren David’s trilogy were brilliant and this one didn't disappoint. With much of the story allowing us to follow Archie, Ty's cousin, the book offers a lot more humour and light heartedness than the previous books. However, it also delves deeper into the dangers of gang culture and all in all the book covers a range of emotions and genres which is what makes it so beautifully constructed.  

All the way through, I sympathised with Ty and Archie which could be down to the first person narratives from their point of views. However, that doesn't mean they don't have character flaws (sometimes their thoughtlessness can put their families in danger). This is another aspect of Keren David's writing that makes her a fantastic author, her characters are believable, they have a varied mixture of emotions and her characterisation is outstanding.

I'm a bit sad that the series has ended and I wondered if Keren David might consider an Archie spin off (hint hint!) as his character was hilarious, so full of life and typically teenage! His attitude is really believable and his friends give the reader a better insight into Archie’s life, both before and after Ty (just as Archie visiting Ty’s home town gives us a deeper insight into Ty’s life before the crime). The way the novel is written definitely ties up a few loose ends from the characters' backgrounds. I think that this is possibly the best book in the series as it offers so much variety and displays Keren David’s talent brilliantly. I would recommend this series to readers who like an adventure and can appreciate good storytelling!

5/5 Absolutely brilliant! A must read trilogy.

Never Have I Ever Review

Title: Never Have I Ever

Author: Sara Shepard

Release Date: 29^th Sept 2011

Publisher: Harper

Not long ago I had everything a girl could wish for: amazing friends, an adorable boyfriend, a loving family. But none of them know that I’m gone – that I’m dead. To solve my murder, my long-lost twin sister, Emma, has taken my place. And now my killer is watching her every move.

I remember little from my life, so all I can do is follow along as Emma tries to solve the mystery of my disappearance. But the deeper she digs, the more suspects she uncovers. It turns out my friends and I played a lot of games – games that ruined people’s lives.

Anyone could want revenge... anyone could want me –and now Emma – dead.

As Emma takes on her dead twin sister’s life to try and find out who killed her, she struggles to keep her lives separate. Falling for Ethan only makes her life more difficult as she tries to maintain Sutton’s status as Queen Bee. Can Emma eliminate all the suspects before she herself becomes a victim?

I really enjoyed this book and although it took me a while to read it, it was definitely worth it. Emma is still struggling to find her sister’s killer but by the end of the book there are more suspects than ever! An unexpected character appears at the end and definitely adds more excitement and anticipation to the next book (which I have already ordered from the library and can’t wait to read!)

The comments made by Sutton throughout the book remind us of the girl’s unusual relationship and allow us a slight insight into her personal life which isn’t tinged by others jealousy or admiration.

As Emma begins to get closer to Sutton’s dad and Sutton’s sister, both twins realise how good Sutton’s life was before she died and just how much she has lost. However, as Emma delves deeper into Sutton’s life, it is clear that she had many enemies, but Sara Shepard keeps the reader on edge, not revealing which of these characters are capable of murder and blackmail and who Emma can actually trust.

Once again, Sara Shepard’s writing style still reminded me of the book ‘The Time of the Ghost’ by Diana Wynne Jones (as mentioned in my review for book one in this series ‘The Lying Game’) as she captures the mystery surrounding each character and how they relate to the girls’ lives wonderfully. It can take a while for the characters to form themselves as individuals as Emma knows very little about them and so the reader is placed in the same situation as Emma, getting to know the characters gradually, at face value. Sutton struggles just as much as Emma to work out the circumstances of her death. It is frustrating that Sutton can’t communicate with her twin, not to help her unravel the mystery but to offer her support. Although Emma has the love of many characters who think she is Sutton, there is only Ethan who truly understands her situation. However, even their relationship suffers when Emma is concerned that things may become too complicated if they get too close. Everyone thinks that Emma is Sutton and Sutton would never have dated someone like Ethan!

I would recommend this book and I just hope that the plot doesn’t become too complicated within the next book, ‘Two Truths and a Lie’.  While I still feel like Emma isn’t much closer to finding Sutton’s killer, I don’t feel like Sara Shepard is dragging out the story, in fact, the tale just becomes more intriguing. I haven’t read any of Sara Shepard’s other series but I have heard that they are really brilliant and I look forward to giving them a go after this series!

4.5/5 The story just gets more interesting!

Zom-B Underground Review

Title : Zom-B Underground

Author: Darren Shan

Release Date: 20^th June 2013

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Books

CAN YOU HOLD ON TO YOUR HUMANITY IF YOU’RE A MONSTER?

HOW DO YOU FACE THE PRESENT IF YOU’RE HAUNTED BY THE PAST?

WHERE CAN YOU TURN WHEN YOU’RE TRAPPED IN A LIVING NIGHTMARE?

FOR B SMITH, DEATH IS NOT THE END!

B should surely be dead. She is dead... or more precisely undead. Then how can she think, feel or even speak? Being kept in an underground unit and monitored closely by scientists brings B no closer to the truth of what has been going on since her capture. She finds out that there are more like her, more zombies that can walk and speak and think. They call themselves zomheads, although B is not sure how much she has in common with them, despite being dead of course!

Now I know many people were a bit unsure about this series and slated the first book. While I enjoyed Zom-B, I must admit, this book didn’t do it for me (that DOES NOT MEAN that I love Shan any less... this is his first disappointing book in my eyes so he has done well to maintain my interest since I started high school!). Maybe it was the monotony of the days ‘underground’ that didn’t capture my imagination but I just didn’t find the book that interesting. There are some brilliant gory descriptions, as there always is with Shan and I still love the illustrations within this series, which I think has really added another depth to Shan’s writing.

Shan is a master of characterisation and he has developed some brilliant characters in this tale (although sadly most of them are dead by the end!) and the weird clown like figure, Mr Dowling, has of course sparked my interest. Present in the first book, he clearly has something to do with the introduction of zombies and the strange targeting of school children (which seems to be what the zom-heads were hinting at) which reminded me a little of Mr Tiny in the Saga of Darren Shan series – a character who ultimately knows far more than everyone else. There is another twist to this tale like there was in Zom-B and although this one was easier to spot, it was no less fascinating. I am going to have to stop taking things at face value when reading Shan’s books!

I will be reading the next book (I already have it waiting on my shelf after pestering my beloved fiancé to buy it for me) and I just hope that the series redeems itself. It is called Zom-B City so hopefully the story will be brought back to life with the introduction of the real world. I have to read on because the series has captured my imagination but also because Shan is such a brilliant writer and I am looking forward to reading his next offering. I wouldn’t say this book was terrible, the plot was just slightly disappointing and it was only in the last few chapters that things get really exciting. If you have read the first one, I would suggest you give this one a go but I didn’t really feel it was up to Shan-standard.

3.5/5 This one didn’t do it for me but there are some brilliant individual moments within the tale.

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart Review

Title: The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

Author: Mathias Malzieu

Release Date: 6^th August 2009

Publisher: Chatto and Windus

Edinburgh, 1874. On the coldest night the world has ever seen, Little Jack is born with a frozen heart and immediately undergoes a life-saving operation. But Dr Madeleine is no conventional medic and surgically implants a cuckoo-clock into his chest.

Little Jack grows up different from other children; every day begins with a daily wind-up. At school he is bullied for his ‘ticking’, but Dr Madeleine reminds him he must resist strong emotion; anger is far too dangerous for his cuckoo-clock heart. So when the beautiful young street-singer, Miss Acacia, appears – pursued by Joe the school bully – Jack is in danger of more than just falling in love... he is putting his life on the line.

At birth, Jack is fitted with a cuckoo-clock heart to save his life. As he grows up under the protective wing of Dr Madeleine and her friends he realises he is different to other children. A chance encounter with a pretty girl, Miss Acacia inspires him to start at school.  However, the tick tocking of his clock-work heart means he struggles to make friends and eventually he is driven out by the school bully.  Setting off on a quest to track down Miss Acacia, Jack meets lots of colourful characters and finds himself on the most exciting adventure ever... falling in love!

I picked up this book because I was attracted to its steam punk style front cover and the contents followed this style. Jack is one of a rabble of characters which have been operated on by Dr Madeleine, who many of the townspeople think of as a witch. Her unusual methods of ‘fixing people’ and assisting young ladies with unwanted pregnancies gets her a bad reputation but she cares for little Jack as if he were her own son. It is this caring relationship that makes the ending really distressing and for me, this ruined the entire book.

I don’t want to reveal the ending to anyone who is going to give this book a go but it is rather sad and involves a huge deception which changes your entire perceptions of all the events in the book. The characters are brilliantly constructed and have wonderfully vibrant personalities . The style of the first person narrative (written from the point of view of Jack) is similar to Lemony Snicket’s Unfortunate Events series. Drifting between a black comedy and a fairy-tale, the narrative is more mature that Snicket’s  but still offers some of the dry humour and witty style that Snicket is so good at. This style is also captured in the wonderful chapter titles.

I did enjoy the story and the relationship between Jack and those he cares for,  Dr Madeleine, his surrogate mother, Georges Melies, his best friend and Miss Acacia, his one true love, are beautiful as well as haunting in the way they develop and end.  Set in 1874, Jack the Ripper makes a brief appearance and the beautifully described Edinburgh, Paris and an Extraordinarium in Andalusia really captured my imagination.

4/5 An absolutely lovely book but with a harrowing and disappointing ending.