Eighteen-year-old Cat is on a mission to find Sophie Durango, a girl who has stolen his heart (and his virginity). Fleeing his hometown in AlbuquerqueEighteen-year-old Cat is on a mission to find Sophie Durango, a girl who has stolen his heart (and his virginity). Fleeing his hometown in Albuquerque, with a few dollars and no real plan, he heads for Los Angeles and finds himself with an infuriating travelling partner, the quirky Star. The pair form an unlikely bond when their bus breaks down in the middle of the desert and they are forced to accept help from an old man and his sullen friend. Re-naming themselves Hunter and Grape they begin a journey of self-awareness, facing up to the past and discovering what true friendship means.
This is the second YA novel from author, actor and screenwriter, Eoin Macken. Like his debut, Kingdom of Scars, this is a contemporary look at a young male's coming of age. Set along the dusty roads of New Mexico, the novel is brought to life with descriptive detail and memorable characters. The dialogue is simple and extremely effective, almost like a play divided into numerous Acts: Act One: A roadside encounter where the two main characters encounter each other for the first time; the initial bus journey and the development of a tentative relationship forming. Act Two: An isolated cabin where the teenagers witness the grief of a stranger. Act Three: Another dusty roadside, further character development and background stories. Act Four: A new friendship with a homeless man and his dog and a trip to Las Vegas. Act Five: An unscheduled trip to Los Angeles and the search for Cat's dream girl; a stolen bike, a new friendship with a lonely french man and a dip in the ocean. The scenery is minimal, as both Hunter and Grape are the main attraction. Their individual stories are all the audience needs.
These teenagers are both victims of their upbringing and their circumstances. They are two lost souls who have found each other during their lowest moments. Without each other they may have travelled different paths, but together they complement each other and makes their pilgrimage one of adventure with semi-security. They need each other, despite their initial resistance. Damaged by their pasts, they need to face the realities of the present and learn to wade-into the future.
This is YA fiction, but with a leaning toward drama. A little slow to start, it builds up as the Acts progress and the characters reveal some of their back-stories. Hunter is struggling to be the alpha-male (lots of fist fights and hard-ons) and Grape uses her feminine charms far to much for my liking (including kissing random men to avoid confrontation). There is a sexist undertone throughout the novel which, as an adult reader, I found uncomfortable. I hope that young adult readers will realise that this is not the way gender should be categorised. However, Hunter is a genuinely nice guy, with a good heart, and matures as he travels on his journey.
A charming, road-trip novel which takes two damaged teenagers on an unlikely adventure through the blistering heat of New Mexico and on to the more capable landscape of Los Angeles. Hunter and the Grape is refreshingly different to other YA novels, with an edgy and arty feel, which would be magnificent on stage or screen. Ideal for older teenagers and young adults alike....more
This is the stunning YA debut from C.L. Taylor. It is about sixteen-year-old Drew Finch, who's brother, Mason, has beeReview from Mia Madden, aged 13.
This is the stunning YA debut from C.L. Taylor. It is about sixteen-year-old Drew Finch, who's brother, Mason, has been sent to a reforming school. One day, Drew meets Dr. Cobey, a person who has been working at the school. Cobey gives Drew a letter from Mason saying that the school has been brainwashing teenagers. She dismisses it at first, thinking that her younger brother is just pranking her, but then she starts to grow worried. What if her brother is being serious? What if Norton House actually was brainwashing teenagers?
She does a little bit of research and finds nothing, except for a single person claiming to know the truth about Norton House. Drew meets up with this person, who calls themself Zed Green. Zed brings her boyfriend, who was a victim of Norton House's 'treatment'. The boy, that was once a rebellious skater-kid, was now a mindless, polite, contributor to society. Drew decides to take action. She has to find a way to be sent off to Norton House to rescue Mason, without raising too much suspicion. Will she get to the school to save Mason? And will she be able to avoid the treatment, herself?
I would never be able to do this book justice. I absolutely adored it. It's probably the best book I've read this year and I would be surprised if it doesn't win some form of award. C.L. Taylor is now my favourite (non-Irish) YA author. I just couldn't see the end coming! I love Drew's character, probably because she reminded me of myself. At one stage, she claims she was Emo. I'm sort of an Emo now. I mean if she listens to Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, Paramore and other bands that I like, she's basically an older, British, fictional version of me! Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book for ages 11+. ...more
Life is not a bed of roses for fourteen-year-old Liv. Her Mum is in rehab, her father disappeared when she was a toddler and her sister, Hatty, has drLife is not a bed of roses for fourteen-year-old Liv. Her Mum is in rehab, her father disappeared when she was a toddler and her sister, Hatty, has dropped out of college to take over the reins. The two girls are determined to make things work so they can avoid a social services intervention. They had been in foster care before and will do anything to keep Liv at home. As if this is not hard enough, Liv is now being targeted by the school bully and is losing her best friend, Sarah. When she finds an old hand-written book of recipes, she uses the world of baking to add some sweetness to her bitter life. But can some cakes and cookies make her pain melt away?
ER Murray has written a YA novel that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Liv is a teenager with a temper, but for a very good reason. She has had a difficult childhood and is torn between hating her alcoholic mother and wanting her approval and love. The discovered recipe book is a rare glimpse into her mothers happier moments and Liv hopes that some of the happiness will rub off on her. However, creating buns, fudge and cupcakes can be an expensive past-time and Liv struggles to find ingredients. Enlisting the help of the school dinner lady, she attempts to re-create her mother's dreams. All her plans go awry when, in a moment of madness, Liv does something terrible and it leads to a chain of uncontrollable events. The bullying increases, her friendship with Sarah collapses and the boy she has feelings for is slipping through her fingers. How can things get any worse?
It can be hard to discuss addiction with children. They have an image in their mind of what an alcoholic looks like, and if they have had no contact with one, they struggle with relating to their stories. In this novel the author has used a very real story, set in a very real world, to show that any one of us can be touched by addiction. Liv is a memorable character, with her sassy nature hiding her despair and loneliness. She is terrified she will be removed from her home and placed into foster care, and has painful memories of being separated from her sister. Like many kids who have never met their fathers, she has an idealised notion of him and thinks h may be the answer to all her prayers. In chapters reminiscent of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime, Liv decides to track her father down, meeting some strange and wonderful characters along the way.
This is a touching, yet honest look at what it is like to live with anger, fear and uncertainty in your life. To not know when there is going to be food in the fridge or whether you can afford to wash your clothes. It looks at the idea of hope and how children believe in its power. It also addresses reality, in a non-judgmental way. Children don't need to be spoken to in a condescending way, they just need the truth and to know that someone is watching their back. Bullying is cleverly interwoven throughout the novel, without sugar-coating it. Girls can be especially cruel and Liv is the victim they have hand-picked for their campaign. To balance the darker moments, ER Murray has included achievable recipes into the book, which are sure to tempt even the toughest teenager.
This YA novel is bound to be a hit with kids aged 12-16; that age where they are too old for toys, too young for deep relationships and have more questions than answers. It is written with love and hope and this flows through the voice of Liv. She may have a hard life but she is determined to make the most of it, even if she makes some mistakes along the way. Just like everyone of us... ...more
"I am a girl of definitions, of logic, of black and white. Remember this."
So begins the YA debut of Cecelia Ahern. These are the words of Celestine No"I am a girl of definitions, of logic, of black and white. Remember this."
So begins the YA debut of Cecelia Ahern. These are the words of Celestine North, a teenage girl who is on the cusp of womanhood. She has an average life with her middle class family, an adoring boyfriend and a love of mathematics and structure. A bright young thing, with her whole future ahead of her, one chance moment on public transport brings her whole world to another level. She is now 'Flawed' and her life no longer belongs in the realm she grew up in. Suddenly she is public property and her every move is monitored for media scrutiny. Can a girl who has been flawless her whole life survive in the world of the Flawed?
It is hard to give an overview of this novel without making it sound too political, so I will do my best to simplify things, starting with the author's own words...
"The Flawed are regular citizens who have made moral or ethical mistakes in society."
In this fictional city, there is a new way to rule. Previous Governments have made a mess of things, so the citizens decided to take matters into their own hands. They introduce The Guild, a committee made up of judges, who are the new leadership,deciding who is 'flawed' and how they should be punished. The repercussions of being found guilty are permanent ones. The guilty shall be branded for life and find their movements restricted. Like the Jews in Nazi Germany, they must wear armbands displaying their 'shame' and while they are not imprisoned, they are constantly undermined and treated as second class citizens. The problem with all this 'morality policing' is quite simple. It is extremely subjective. If the head Judge wants his way, he will get it. End of. This becomes a problem for Celestine when she shows respect to a 'Flawed' man on the bus and has to face the consequences. While Judge Crevan is a family friend and the father of her boyfriend, Art, she suddenly sees herself being used to set an example to the whole county. Her trial seems rigged from the start and pretty soon everything she has believed in is being called into question.
This is Cecelia Ahern's first YA novel and she enters the genre with a bang. Celestine is a good girl, trying to find her footing in the adult world and, like any young woman, is bound to make mistakes. But this is another world. A world led by peers rather than politicians. When a country learns to mistrust a government, and hands over its administration to a chosen few, it is fraught with its own problems. The author has bravely addressed this concept, through the eyes of a young adult, rather than the daughter of our former Taoiseach of Ireland. Idealism is always hovering around the minds of teenagers and this novel shows how 'forward-thinking' can actually backfire tremendously. The scenes of torture involved with the branding of citizens are graphic and memorable, bringing shadows of Nazism to the readers mind. The Guild are indeed terrifying party, with 'show-trails' and pre-determined sentencing echoing Stalin's regime. But, at the heart of this book, there is a young woman who can finally see what her world is made of. The secrecy, the lies and the hidden agendas of people in power. Not so different to the government her people pushed aside.
YA has been riding high on the bestseller lists for a number of years now, with John Green showing that young adults can appreciate a good book as much as the rest of us. The Twilight Saga, The Book Thief, The Hunger Games and our own Louise O'Neill's Only Ever Yours and Asking For It. All great sellers, with movies and merchandise and added bonus for many. This title is a perfect bridge for a teenager moving onto the next level. Minimal reference to sex, no gratuitous violence (apart from torture scenes) and it addresses bullying, young love and familial relationships. There are love interests, making it perfect for casting agents in Hollywood, and I can almost see the range of merchandise, on its very own stand, in the near future. I think Cecelia has got her timing just right, with other authors following her lead very soon. Hopefully there will be still be room in the market for the authors moving from their original genres. Flawed is a strong story, once the reader gets past the initial grounding required to set the scene. Celestine is a character that will surely inspire many young girls (especially the quieter, more studious ones) and there will be many a swooning teenager when they encounter Carrick, a young man who is also 'Flawed'. I am not the intended audience for this title, but I lost myself in the concept of morality policing and turned the pages just as fast as any other thought-provoking novel. I can only imagine that the YA market will lap it up......more
Eighteen year old, Emma O'Donovan, has it all. Looks, brains, a great group of friends and a great social life. All that changes when she is found on Eighteen year old, Emma O'Donovan, has it all. Looks, brains, a great group of friends and a great social life. All that changes when she is found on her front doorstep, bruised and blistered, with no recollection of how she got there. She vaguely remembers a party, the previous night, and drinking copious amounts of booze, popping a pill and flirting her ass off. After that, it is blank. When she returns to school, the next day, it becomes very obvious that something big has happened. No one will talk to her, whispers and pointing fingers and everyone seems to know what happened at the party. When she discovers a facebook page, with photographs of her from that night, she begins to realise that her life has just collapsed. But was she asking for it?
I can honestly say that I have not read a book that affected me as much as this one did. I was so upset by the contents that my heart was pounding in anger, my hands ached from clenched fists and my heart broke a little more with each page. I had to take a break, halfway through, but read it within four hours. There was no way I could have put this away for another day.
Louise O'Neill has taken the concept of 'consent' and brought it to her fictional story, based on many real-life cases. Instead of setting the book in a big city, or with older characters, she has used the cusp of adulthood for her protagonist, Emma, and shown how a young woman, with a cocky, self assured exterior, can be an insecure child underneath it all. The eighteen year old has been complimented on her extraordinary beauty since she was a baby and has learned to use this to her advantage. Her stature and confidence means that she is the 'it' girl. Everyone wants to be her friend, her lover, just be near her. She gets away with a lot because of this; she can be a real bitch to her friends, uses people for her own gain and helps herself to what she believes she deserves. However, the minute she closes the door to her own home, she reverts to childlike behaviour, with her mother pressing her pressure points. She is constantly reminded by her mother of her need to maintain her poise and her beauty, while her father places her on a 'Princess' pedestal. She wants it all. Her whole life she has had it all. The party is another example of her need to be queen bee. She desires attention from men and women. She thinks the girls should want to be like her, while the men should crave her. Add alcohol and drugs into the mix and things very quickly descend into the stuff of nightmares.
The novel starts off like a typical YA book, friends hanging out, classroom chats, after school chats and online banter. A host of characters are introduced, very quickly, and there is a balance of males and females. The night of the party changes the books direction and the reader is sucked into the very real and raw events that occur on that fateful night. There is no easy way to describe the pain I felt in my gut, at this stage. It was a bit like when you receive some terrible news, and your breathing and heart rate just shift, leaving a lump in your throat and a pain in your soul. Sure, Emma was not a likeable character, especially when drunk. Sure, she was flirty, cunning and out to get what she wanted. But that does NOT make it right. Ever. It is irrelevant what she wore (with another, more staid character even mentioning that she owned the same dress), or whether she had previous sexual relationships. Quite simply, she did not consent. O'Neill cleverly uses an unlikable character to bring that point home. There is NO excuse for rape, or sexual assault. The second half of the book examines Emma's life a year after the event. This is almost as distressing as the party scene, as the reader sees her world collapse, along with the rest of the family. The accused are experiencing things very differently to the victim and the rural community are taking sides. The writing is sharp, honest, brutal and shows how backward the world is, in coming forward. This is a book marketed as YA, yet should be read by everyone over sixteen years of age, regardless of gender, to highlight the injustice of our legal system, our outdated attitudes to women and encourage discussion of what is 'consent'. An outstanding book, not to be ignored. For the sake of females everywhere, present and future generations......more
Conjoined twins, Grace and Tippie, have led a fairly sheltered life. Surrounded by family and friends, home-schooled, with local people used to seeingConjoined twins, Grace and Tippie, have led a fairly sheltered life. Surrounded by family and friends, home-schooled, with local people used to seeing them all the time and therefore not being the object of people's stares. All this changes when finances become an issue, and they have to move into a new public school. While they continue their normal routine, like any regular child, they are subject to gawps, stares and barely concealed curiosities. They struggle to process their new situation but find two friends to share their burden. All is going (relatively) well, until one twin becomes ill. A decision needs to be made, and only the girls can make it...
Written in verse, this novel brings Grace and Tippi's world to life with beauty, grace and warmth. The girls are more than sisters, they are as one. They share a body, for sure, but so much more than that, they share a soul. Best friends, with different tastes in food and boys, with two very different personalities. They may be conjoined, but are two intelligent, beautiful girls who need to be seen separately. Falling in love, visiting the doctor, choosing what to eat, all these things require consideration on each others part, yet rarely cause tension. The bond that they have is something that could never be understood by any single person. Sarah Crossan has crafted a novel that draws the reader into the lives of two girls, united from birth, as if she had injected their stories directly into the bloodstream. As you turn the pages, you feel their feelings, see what they see and think their thoughts. Each character is shaped in their own individual style and their story becomes a part of your life. I began to slow down as I approached the end of the book, as I was dreading turning the last page. I did not want to say goodbye to these girls. I wanted to read more, and more about them. It only took a few minutes to settle into reading a novel that is written in verse, as it is so beautifully composed. The words are clever, well thought-out and very lyrical. Each verse has a title, rather like a chapter, but they come fast and are fluid, blending together seamlessly. Aimed at the YA market, but suitable for any confident reader, this should be added to everyone's wishlist, immediately. Since closing the back cover, I have missed Grace and Tippi, their sister, their parents and their friends. I was a part of their world for a very short time, but what a world it was...
Best friends since junior infants, Maggie and Ellen do everything together. Just like most teenagers they have sleepovers, go to the local teen disco,Best friends since junior infants, Maggie and Ellen do everything together. Just like most teenagers they have sleepovers, go to the local teen disco, share clothes and make-up and rarely think further into the future than the following weekend. All this changes when Ellen's father leaves the family home and shatters the family's existence. Ellen struggles with the change and Maggie watches as her friend spirals out of control, unable to help her. A new older boyfriend means Ellen moves in different circles and while Maggie continues on with her school work in the run-up to exams, Ellen seems more interested in the worlds of bars, nightclubs and booze. The girls friend, Liam, is the only other person who can see Ellen's deterioration and Maggie wonders how her recently absent friend would feel about the new closeness between Liam and herself...
This YA novel explores the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. There are many books about this period in a teenagers life, but not all of them get it right. There are moments when a young woman changes, not only physically, but mentally too. These moments can be hard to pin down, usually blurring the instances of first love, sexual awakening or desire for independence. Natasha Mac a'Bháird has taken an ordinary friendship, in an ordinary town, added in the (now common) separated parents and shown how a young, happy girl can become so unhappy that she becomes almost unrecognisable, to even her best friend. The departure of her father, and the new woman in his life, affects Ellen a lot more than she lets on. Her mother is in the depths of despair and is therefore not available to notice the change in Ellen. However, Maggie can see it. She tries to reason with her friend, but she is too angry, too bitter and is too far gone. Unusually, the school that the girls attend seem unaware of anything untoward and Maggie struggles to contain Ellen's wild side. The novel starts at the end; Ellen is gone and Maggie is writing her feelings down, diary style, sharing her dreams that Ellen is off somewhere having a ball. The writing is undercut with loneliness and guilt, with Maggie feeling uneasy about moving on without Ellen around. The author slowly reels in the reader, through clever technique and limited characters, meaning that the story of Ellen becomes part of our world, our narrative. There us a gaping hole in Maggie's world since Ellen left, but the beginning of that hole began with a crack. This novel shows how the smallest crack can become a serious fracture if not treated with care. This talented Irish author has written a wonderfully moving read, not reliant on pulling at heart strings, like many YA books do. It tells a story, one that could have had many different endings. Just like real life... ...more
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