There are few books that have a haunting presence way after you put them down. This is one of those books. It seems to marry the idea of magic and folklore seamlessly without taking away the reality of the plot. The book is set on the fictional island of Mirasol where the idea of people being tainted and becoming monsters is seeped within their culture and collective thinking. Rosa has The Calm where it renders her mute but she bares the scars which prove she has it which mark her out as something to be feared and punished. To this end she is kept at home with only her housekeeper and father and a laptop as her connection to the outside world. Rosa lives for her online friends and revels in the fact that they are from far-flung places but one day she discovers Ansel95 and realises that he maybe too close for comfort. Rosa starts to explore ore about her past which is starting to impact on the present and everything that she seems to hold dear will be suddenly making her question what she knows. This book is beautiful, sensitive and heartfelt with some much passion and character. Rosa is so likeable and friendly despite her upbringing and I loved the stories told from her mother’s point of view too. There are moments of tension where you hold your breath but also moments where you wish you could embrace the characters and hold on to them tight. I simply loved this book and felt that it could have lasted so much longer. I want to know what happens to Rosa next and to Ansel95. I loved it and would recommend to those of 12+. If you would like to know more about Candy Gourlay click here www.candygourlay.co.uk/ Support your local indie bookshop and order your copy here uk.bookshop.org/shop/HuntingRaven
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This is the second book in the awesome Alex Unlimited series. Alex is a special agent who can conjure up versions of herself who have special expertise. This mission requires someone who can speak with ghosts. But this mission seems different to all the rest. Instead of her taking a back seat she is asked to take the lead which is unusual and leaves Alex with a sense of control and responsibility that she has never felt before. But all is not what it seems. Alex is still lost has she still has no idea about her past and where she came from but it is proving difficult to find any answers to her burning questions. This book is just as good as the first in the series (which, I find, isn’t always the case when it comes to trilogies). It is jam packed with quick action and nail biting episodes (which caused many a late night for me!). Alex, the main protagonist, is brilliant and kick-ass and an agent that we could all be friends with. She is quick thinking and astute but is aware of her flaws and pitfalls. I really loved this book (as I did the first one) as it shows a greater depth to Alex but also leaves some of the loose ends still hanging (which, I hope, may get tied up in the third and final book. You can tell that Dan Jolley writes for comics as well as the pace is just as breath taking and really shows the real time events as they happen. Alex is so believable (even though her circumstances really aren’t!) I would be recommending this book for anyone aged 12+ - although it is a little spooky at times with a few quick action fights too! Read if you like real-life action heroes, a touch of the unexpected and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. If you would like to order your copy and support your local indie bookshop click here uk.bookshop.org/shop/HuntingRaven To find out more about Dan Jolley click here danjolley.com/
Pierce flatlined when she was fifteen and she met a guy. Things happened and she managed to escape the underworld and come back to the real world. However this upset a balance and the beings of the underworld want to put it right. Pierce just wants to be a normal teenager but she knows that she is different. And it doesn’t help that the guy that she met keeps turning up at inopportune times and messes up her plans. This book is darkly funny with characters that you instantly warm too. They are flawed but nonetheless you would want to hang around with them because of their sass and attitude. Pierce has fight within her even though she doesn’t completely understand what is happening. She is street smart and just wants to make people happy. This book reveals its plot and its intrigue bit by bit and before you know it you are halfway through the story. I loved this book and the atmosphere is so real that you will be wondering whether the mysterious man might just be lurking around the next corner. If you like: gothic style stories, the undead, hot but mysterious men, flawed characters and rosette spoonbills this is the book for you! Part of a trilogy. Aged 13+ To find out about Meg Cabot have a look at her website here Support your local indie bookshop and grab a copy here
Across the divide has been a breath of fresh air. I will be honest that I had not read a book by Anne Booth before but I will now be actively seeking her out to see what other offerings she has! Olivia is sent to live with her Dad on the island of Lindisfarne after her Mum ends up getting arrested during a pacifist protest before her school half term. Things are even worse as issues kick off at school meaning that her friendship group is falling apart and Olivia can’t decide what side she is on. This is a story about friends, friendship, peace, courage and what it means to have your own beliefs. I loved the whole concept and plot of the book (and now really want to go to Lindesfarne and see what Olivia has seen). I want to walk with Stan (Olivia's Dads gorgeous red setter dog) all over again and pick apart the issues which are big and powerful but are handled with such maturity and depth that this book will have you thinking about it long after you put it down. I have been an Anne Fine nut from an early age and there is not a lot of her work I haven’t read. I came across this book in a charity shop (in the adult section) and knew I had to read it. Published in 2012 it tells the story of a boy called Daniel who believes himself to be an invalid. Then one day his world is turned upside down and his life starts to go in a new direction. There is not a lot I can tell you about the main plot without giving spoilers galore but this is what I can tell you: this book was very creepy - in a good way. If I try and fit it into a particular genre I would err towards gothic horror (because, as with any scary book I read, it nearly ended up in the fridge a number of times) as it will make you want to switch every light on in the house and check under the bed before you go to sleep. But it certainly isn’t conventional. Anne fine manages to weave a combination of intrigue, tension and suspense almost effortlessly into the story which, on the outset, seems completely harmless. This book is for older children and I would probably aim it at 12+. I highly recommend it! Great if: You like a horror story |
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